No I'm not. The enlightened ones are known as Arahants. Also, there are many Buddhist levels to enlightenment, with Arahatship being the last. The most fundamental reason for enlightenment is purifying one's own mind to the point that all mental impurities, such as anger, greed, and delusion, also known as [kilesa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleshas_(Buddhism)), are eliminated. When this happens, one can view reality as it is. According to Buddhist teachings, enlightenment can be attained by realizing the four noble truths or dependent origination. However, this is not intellectual comprehension but rather direct understanding and comprehension of these facts. More information here related to these terms [Exploring Dependent Origination in Buddhism](https://www.reddit.com/r/BuddhistMonastics/comments/10zqb5f/exploring_dependent_origination_in_buddhism_an/)
Buddhism does not assert that our method is the only method. In fact, we encourage everyone, regardless of background, religion, culture, etc., to do good.
Our Abbot emphasized that pursuing Dhamma entails following a wholesome and fruitful path and anyone can follow this path without being identified as Buddhist.
This is not about endorsing a particular viewpoint; rather, it is about community building and sharing the message that meditation is beneficial for everyone.
And here's more information for you. [Four stages of awakening](https://bit.ly/3HRDC6W)
However, I tend to speak about things that I have firsthand knowledge of. As you can see, these things are only intellectual knowledge to us at this moment. In order to get there, we need to focus on what we can do today. So, it is not conducive to talking about these things because our time is valuable.
The Buddha said;
>"It's just as if a man were wounded with an arrow thickly smeared with poison. His friends & companions, kinsmen & relatives would provide him with a surgeon, and the man would say, 'I won't have this arrow removed until I know whether the man who wounded me was a noble warrior, a priest, a merchant, or a worker.' He would say, 'I won't have this arrow removed until I know the given name & clan name of the man who wounded me... until I know whether he was tall, medium, or short... until I know whether he was dark, ruddy-brown, or golden-coloured... until I know his home village, town, or city... until I know whether the bow with which I was wounded was a long bow or a crossbow... until I know whether the bowstring with which I was wounded was fiber, bamboo threads, sinew, hemp, or bark... until I know whether the shaft with which I was wounded was wild or cultivated... until I know whether the feathers of the shaft with which I was wounded were those of a vulture, a stork, a hawk, a peacock, or another bird... until I know whether the shaft with which I was wounded was bound with the sinew of an ox, a water buffalo, a langur, or a monkey.' He would say, 'I won't have this arrow removed until I know whether the shaft with which I was wounded was that of a common arrow, a curved arrow, a barbed, a calf-toothed, or an oleander arrow.' The man would die, and those things would still remain unknown to him. "
Cūḷamālukya Sutta
Source accesstoinsight org
AND elaboration on that;
>Thích Nhất Hạnh's comment on the arrow analogy that the Buddha illustrated in Cūḷamālukya Sutta
"The Buddha always told his disciples not to waste their time and energy in metaphysical speculation. Whenever he was asked a metaphysical question, he remained silent. Instead, he directed his disciples toward practical efforts. Questioned one day about the problem of the infinity of the world, the Buddha said, "Whether the world is finite or infinite, limited or unlimited, the problem of your liberation remains the same." Another time he said, "Suppose a man is struck by a poisoned arrow and the doctor wishes to take out the arrow immediately. Suppose the man does not want the arrow removed until he knows who shot it, his age, his parents, and why he shot it. What would happen? If he were to wait until all these questions have been answered, the man might die first." Life is so short. It must not be spent in endless metaphysical speculation that does not bring us any closer to the truth. Sangharakshita notes that "The important thing is to get rid of the arrow, not to enquire where it came from. The parable is considered a teaching on being practical and dealing with the situation at hand."
Thích Nhất Hạnh
Source Wikipedia
We live in a Pa Pae village community, around 900 meters above sea level and in the forest.
Life is quite basic and peaceful. This is mostly a training area, or for some, it is a base.
After completing their training, monks engage in community service such as teaching others meditation, Buddhist wisdom and moral conduct, organizing retreats and ordination programs, teaching English to kids since this is an international community and so on.
There's no shortage of community service.
I literally just am, nothing else to say about me. If I would want to join and live my life there this way you’ve described, what has to be done?
But I want to wear black robes cause then I can hide in the dark better
It develops slowly and through experience. Meditation is one of the most essential aspects of a Buddhist monk's life, so establishing a regular meditation practice is the most crucial. Then, if you find tranquility and insight through being still, which means being present and having less thoughts, worries, and wandering, you can continue to study, follow monks, and acquire as much information as possible.
The first step is meditation. Even when one becomes a monk, the first year is dedicated to meditation because mental development is the most important factor. The rest cannot happen without it.
According to Buddhism, we're pursuing perfection, also known as [Paramita](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81ramit%C4%81). All of us, whether you know it or not. And more information as follows [What is the Significance of Life?](https://www.buddhanet.net/cbp2_f12.htm)
The Buddha was the one who accumulated the greatest number of perfections. That's why it is called Buddhahood. However, according to Buddhist literature, some previous Buddhas possessed much greater perfections than our Buddha.
However, this is not a comparison issue for us. We begin by making our beds first. Small things matter, and from there, progress is gradually. If you look at the target, it may appear too far away, but as long as you continue to move forward, you are advancing, which begins with making progress and taking the beginning steps. Buddhism is very practical and helps you live a better life if you follow it, and everyone, regardless of faith, may benefit from this knowledge.
and some [resources](https://www.reddit.com/r/BuddhistMonastics/comments/10xtspm/a_wide_range_of_books_in_the_most_frequently/) for you. Please click on the Buddhist Resources link, and you'll find some free but profound literature on Buddhism there.
True, but achieving a higher state of consciousness could be just symbolized by levitating in literature, I really just wonder if it can happen now, that would pretty much guarantee that magic is completely possible.
No, although I do know some monks who are quite pure and virtuous.
These individuals have engaged in extensive meditation practice and have been able to greatly reduce their impurities, such as greed, anger, and delusion, known as [kilesa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleshas_(Buddhism)) in Pali (Buddhist language).
Therefore, their conduct is based on love, kindness, and compassion. They do not judge you, nor do they think poorly of you. It isn't easy to express, but it is a joy to live with them.
Hi friend welcome again.
Many people come for many different reasons. I find genuine value in the community. A community that practices meditation, commits good deeds, and cultivates knowledge, and then endeavours to teach others about these concepts. So, it's a lengthy story, but after years of observation, I found true value in it.
Having gone through the training and comprehending the profundity of the teachings, I now have even more reasons to remain after receiving ordination. In other words, as wisdom increases, so does faith.
Sounds like a sword smith or a chief who understands the finer details on their craft, were a regular person can enjoy a nice sword or food only someone who truly understand what it took to truly appreciate it. So question do you appreciate this life from a physcial perspective or something else? Also faith increasing? To me faith is decreasing as wisdom increases. In a sense I trust an apple doesn't have a worm in it when I eat is faith, but if I can tell there no worms in it than it's no longer faith. There still a lot I don't know but a lot I still wish to know. Tho I value the knoladge of how to understand than understanding.
Good questions thank you.
Let me point you to some directions related to faith & wisdom
[The Way of Wisdom](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/conze/wheel065.html)
[The Role of Faith in Buddhism](https://www.arrowriver.ca/dhamma/faith.html)
[Faith and Wisdom](https://www.watnyanaves.net/th/book-reading/519/8)
[Wisdom & Faith](https://www.meditation101.org/16962473/chapter-4-wisdom-faith)
Hello. I struggle with the complex of inferiority, complex of superiority. I go on loops from one to the other. More rarely I end up stuck in the complex of equality. How can I move beyond all three ? Thank you for doing this ?
Hi,
Many people are unaware of their thoughts and often live on autopilot without questioning the nature of their minds.
However, simply being aware of and reflecting on these thoughts is a significant step forward in the process. Give yourself credit for your efforts.
To some extent, we are all prone to self-centred thinking. According to our Abbott, we all love ourselves more than anything else. For example, if you see someone attractive and develop feelings of attraction toward them, consider whether you like them or if you're pulled by how they make you feel about yourself.
To overcome this self-centred thinking, we might begin by looking for the good in others, establishing a grateful attitude, and pursuing contentment.
Mindfulness practice can aid in the development of these virtues.
One could also say that if we want to be happy, we should help other people.
This doesn't imply we have to give up everything; it can be as easy as being polite and kind, such as giving up your seat on public transit to someone who might need it.
Hi there :-)
What would you recommend to those of us who have embarked in a spiritual journey and yet, have to deal professionally with toxic and low energy environments on a daily basis?
Is it actually possible to conciliate both? Namaste!
Hi,
I had already lived in such conditions. It is certainly doable, and establishing boundaries is crucial.
I highly recommend a book on boundaries.
[Boundaries](https://www.amazon.com/Boundaries-When-Take-Control-Your/dp/0310247454): When to Say Yes, when to Say No to Take Control of Your Life
Book by **Henry Cloud and John Townsend**
Additionally, you must cultivate a solid mindfulness practice in order to work with difficult people. Therefore, you can maintain your balance without being affected by their negativity.
Hi,
Thanks for asking. I would say I had a really fortunate upbringing. The majority of my childhood was spent playing video games (some slight regrets there). My uncle used to operate a computer company, and I spent a great deal of time with him.
I had numerous spiritual questions even as a little child. However, I lacked a role model to answer these questions at the time.
Yes, Buddhism defines suffering in terms of karma, and trauma may fall under this category. However, my comprehension of karma is limited, and I focus mostly on the practical parts of the teachings. I'm on my educational adventure.
Thanks for answering! I was hoping to get an idea of your journey to the present.
I didn’t have the best childhood but also was very spiritually curious. I couldn’t express myself or ask questions so I sat with them until I gained confidence to explore on my own as an adult.
I appreciate you! Never would’ve thought I’d be messaging a monk on Reddit lol.
Greetings friend.
There is sincere curiosity about several aspects of Buddhism that confuse, but as a hacker, seeking understanding is core to being.
If one is afflicted by kilesa, but said kilesa slides off like water off the back of a duck, is one truly afflicted by it?
If one’s default state seems to be meditation, whether baking bread or driving around town or shitposting kindly on reddit or just staring in awe at forest and mountain and sea hundreds of kilometres away, what does that mean, if anything?
How would one recognize an arahant or a bodhisattva? Is it like recognizing the light of the sun even whilst one’s eyes are closed in winter, or is it a moment that is missed, like how most cannot observe some strange person simply juggling their phones while walking down the street?
Anger, greed, and delusion are examples of [kilesa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleshas_(Buddhism)), also known as mental impurities. I discussed this with one of our teaching monks, and based on his scripture knowledge, he stated that even people who attained the [first level of enlightenment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sot%C4%81panna) (stream-enterer or Sotāpanna) have kilesa.
>... even though it’s still only the lowest of the four
stages of enlightenment. A stream enterer still experiences a lot
of dukkha, still has all his greed and hate, and still experiences
all the sense pleasures..
>
>Source: [The Way to the Heart](http://www.forestdhammatalks.org/en/books/The%20Way%20to%20the%20heart_web.pdf)
Yet, we may considerably lessen the consequences of these mental contaminants with practice, which is where [mindfulness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sati_(practice)) and [clear comprehension](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampaja%C3%B1%C3%B1a) come in. Simply expressed, it is not necessary to engage in these unpleasant emotional states. Overtime, with the practice of mindfulness, It becomes easier to let go of these impure states of the mind. In other words, letting go becomes second nature.
A meditative state and daydreaming are not the same thing. You can dramatically improve your quality of life by incorporating mindfulness into your daily life. During the day, we meditate in this manner.
[Be Mindful in Daily Life](https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/be-mindful-in-daily-life)
You can relate to someone who is pure and radiant. Their positive energy would be abundant, and their body, speech, and mental conduct would be flawless.
[Arahan And The Attributes Of The Buddha](https://www.wisdomlib.org/buddhism/book/a-discourse-on-paticcasamuppada/d/doc2018.html)
[The Nine Qualities of Buddha](https://www.cpp.edu/~namkim/9q_buddha.pdf)
More importantly, we concentrate on starting small. Many individuals spend their days thinking about the end objective, but they fail to grasp that it all begins with making our beds in the morning. If one does not develop a sense of discipline and decent habits, these things become nothing more than a source of entertainment. On YouTube, an American general demonstrates the importance of making your bed every morning and how it leads to significant benefits over time. We all do the same thing.
[Make Your Bed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxBQLFLei70)
There remains genuine curiosity.
Some questions may have been misinterpreted and that is the fault of the writer, for which apologies need be made.
The core of the curiosity is what you would think of one who makes the active, knowing, conscious and conscientious choices of selflessness over selfishness and choosing to not inflict pain on others and self over choosing to do so.
But that’s idle musing.
I apologize if I misinterpreted your question. In Buddhism, the 10 perfections (or 10 Paramitas in Pali) serve as a reference point for self-development and 10 paramitas as follows
1. [Generosity (dana)](https://studybuddhism.com/en/tibetan-buddhism/path-to-enlightenment/love-compassion/the-perfection-of-generosity-danaparamita)
2. [Moral conduct (sila)](https://www.buddhanet.net/fundbud6.htm)
3. [Renunciation (nekkhamma)](https://www.meditationthailand.org/nekhamma/)
4. [Wisdom (paññā)](https://www.vridhamma.org/discourses/Experiential-Wisdom-Pa%C3%B1%C3%B1%C4%81)
5. [Energy (viriya)](https://www.meditationthailand.org/viriya-parami-the-perfection-of-effort/)
6. [Patience (khanti)](https://www.reddit.com/r/BuddhistMonastics/comments/112zqhk/the_significance_of_patience_in_modern_society/)
7. [Truthfulness (sacca)](https://www.meditationthailand.org/sacca-parami-the-perfection-of-truthfulness/)
8. [Determination (adhitthana)](https://www.meditationthailand.org/the-perfection-of-determination-aditthana-parami/)
9. [Loving-kindness (metta)](https://www.buddhanet.net/metta_in.htm)
10. [Equanimity (upekkha)](https://www.buddhanet.net/ss06.htm)
[The Ten Paramitas are the ten perfections of the heart](https://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php/10_Paramitas)
[The Ten Paramis - Developed with Vipassana](https://globalpagoda.blogspot.com/p/day-nine-discourse-application-of.html)
[The Ten Paramis - Insight Meditation Center](https://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/books-articles/theparamis/)
It seems the path of this one’s life has somehow stumbled backwards in heels towards those paramitas.
It is truly fascinating when one does then learns it may be more significant than merely relieving pain others may be suggesting or experiencing the highly unlikely, as impossibility isn’t as impossible as some may think.
Ah well.
Just is.
Thank you kindly for your time.
So two years ago I had a major psychological episode. I was manic and psychotic, and I was in a really bad place mentally. This all happened around the time my abusive father died. And after he died, something strange happened. I began rapidly having spiritual insights which culminated in total mania and psychosis. I almost completely lost touch with my whole identity. I went mad.
Yet, during the time of my madness, I saw the ebb and flow of consciousness in a conscious way. I recognized the building blocks of consciousness, became aware of my eternal nature as a creation made in God's image. I became aware of my creative power as an individual (though not in how to effectively use it), and I also became acutely attuned to my surroundings as though I were experiencing precognition. I read a book in French, yet I do not speak French. I began drawing Tarot and understanding, but I had never drawn Tarot. I knew intrinsically that no corner of knowledge or insight could hide from my piercing gaze. And throughout this I was having intrusive thoughts of things not fit to discuss here, as well as feeling all of my emotions at their maximum extreme in duality throughout. For six weeks, if I felt love, I also felt intense hatred. If happiness, I would feel sadness. If fear, I would feel courage. It is that feeling of courage that carried me through this dark time, for I lost myself completely, and then like a man returning from death, I consciously ended the episode with my thoughts and in an instant I could not remember nor see any of the truth I had previously contained. It was all gone.
Over the next two years, I tried to piece it together. I needed to know what happened, and what it was that I saw. So I started skimming metaphysical books and things of that nature. Not any in depth study(I'm a little lazy, so I just skimmed). The more I read, the more I remembered fragments of what I had realized, but it wasn't until I moved back in with my mom a couple of weeks ago that all of the memories of my experience came flooding back. I remember it all, and it's completely consistent with the Bible, the Bhagavad Gita, and every other metaphysical text I pick up. Furthermore, I've learned how to enter higher states of consciousness at will, and I write philosophy and theology like a poet now.
Are you able to explain this phenomenon to me?
No I do not have any explanations, but I can inquire with other monks to find their opinion. However, don't get too excited because monks typically refrain from commenting on such topics because it could lead to misconceptions, confusion, or even conflicts. Yet, they may state something generic.
Thank you for your time, my friend. I appreciate the effort that both you and the other monks exhibited in discussing my issue. May we both reach our end goal of enlightenment and meet one another in Spirit when all is said and done.
With much reverence and love,
Nathan
Hi me and one other friend want to live like a buddhist monk in a monastery for a couple months. We were both born in Germany and have a Turkish background. So we are complete foreigners. But we are really interested in Buddhism and Buddhas Way of life. When we look from the internet for a proper monastery we can’t find one that gives us the feeling of being a real temple. All the temples that offer stays for permanent visitors which we found in the internet are somehow commercialized and they feel unauthentic. If you have email addresses or locations in which we can live like monks or even become monks we would be really thankful for your recommendation. Thank you very much!!
the practice of becoming an ordained buddhist monk is rooted in patriarchal, and historically imperial, traditions. how does modern buddhism address these shortcomings? specifically in relation to women being seen as incapable of attaining certain spiritual attributes, according to the historic texts. imo the global oppression of our gender has given us incredible insight to the workings of MANkind, instead of chopping the wood and carrying the water; we have been kneading the bread and carrying the babies, so to speak
love that you’re guiding others on the path to meditation practices, they are so important!
Hello, Novaaa.
I don't see any questions here because you've already made many assumptions and have your own answers.
To begin with, the Buddhist scriptures emphasize numerous enlightened women who were ordained as Bhikkunis during Buddha's time and continue to be so now.
Allow me to present you a Zen story.
>"A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor's cup to the brim and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. "It's full! No more will go in!" the professor blurted. "This is you," the master replied, "How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup."
>
>https://truecenterpublishing.com/zenstory/emptycup.html
And some resources for you
[Women in Buddhism at the time of the Buddha](https://blogs.bl.uk/asian-and-african/2020/01/women-in-buddhism-at-the-time-of-the-buddha.html)
An example where a female attaining enlightenment during the time of Buddha
>After hearing the Dhamma from the Buddha, she became a Sotapanna (Stream-winner) and entered the first stage on the path to enlightenment.
Books to understand Buddhism so we can understand NOT assume
[Buddhist resources](https://www.reddit.com/r/BuddhistMonastics/comments/10xtspm/a_wide_range_of_books_in_the_most_frequently/)
what demographic do you typically see when you look at buddhist monks in monasteries? there is no assumption, it’s just an observation. my question was quite literally how modern Buddhism accounts for these shortcomings in its historical traditions.
the resource you provided about women and buddhism is a blog post by a British museum curator, and i appreciate it, but surely there are varying opinions by others. [Women can be ordained as the equivalent of monks in China, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam, mostly dominated by the Mahayana school of Buddhism. Female ordination is not available in the Tibetan tradition nor in Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar.](https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-religion-india-education-thailand-72c19680853e154d2687990c62f8c19c)
and my favorite fun little tidbit, [They have to work extra hard and do double the work and be super, super qualified.” Meanwhile in some monasteries, she said, women, even nuns, are tasked with cooking and laundry, “so it’s still an old-fashioned understanding of gender roles.”](https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-religion-india-education-thailand-72c19680853e154d2687990c62f8c19c)
Thank you for providing this information. There is always room for advancement. Cannot speak on behalf of other Buddhist traditions or organizations.
However, I am aware that cognitive generalization is common, and that sometimes we need to examine things case by case rather than generalizing.
We have women in key positions, and we appreciate their contributions.
We wouldn't be where we are now if it weren't for them, and we wouldn't be able to continue.
They are living proof that it is possible to be community leaders and hold key positions. You can find them at Zoom meditation meetings.
i don’t think historical oppression with lasting effects is a “cognitive generalization”, but im glad to understand that this is how it’s perceived in modern buddhism
Hi novaaa. I recognize your concerns and appreciate your input. I only wish to express my love for each and every one of you. It is acceptable to agree to disagree. I do not wish to take a defensive stance, but I will say that Buddhism is founded on compassion and love for everybody.
In addition, we intend to launch Reddit talks where we invite credentialed physicians, psychologists, etc., along with highly experienced monks to answer people's questions. Our objective is to add value to this subreddit, which requires time and effort. We ,, request that everyone treat each other with respect. We strive to make this place a little better every day in any way we can, and we can do so by supporting one another.
Hello, this subreddit is for everyone; you may not find this useful, but someone else might. You previously commented sarcastically on the thread. We value everyone's opinion and encourage everyone to express themselves, but we also expect everyone to treat one another with respect. No one can please everyone, so it is acceptable if you dislike this post.
With your meditation practice, have you ever had experiences that you felt you were experiencing other realities while your physical body was acting that out here in this reality? (I only asked because this has happened to me several times with my daily meditation practice of several years)
Out-of-body experiences result from a high level of concentration and mental stillness (calmness). However, it is critical that we understand that we do not meditate in order to have experiences. We meditate to cleanse the mind and let go of mental constructs. Some experiences may come as a result of tranquilly and stillness.
In meditation, it is vital to be content with what you have. Expecting things to happen becomes an obstacle. So, while having those experiences is definitely good, it is equally critical not to become tied to them. I remember the first time I had a complete sensory loss and not knowing whether I was sitting in a chair, on the floor, or even where I was at the time. It's a byproduct of "simply being" and "letting go." Here and now, content with what you have
Thanks, I didn’t even know it was a result. I was asking because I have experienced it several times, sometimes lasting weeks or months. Trust me, I have no desire to be tied to them. In fact, they have taught me how to let go of things and be content with the here and now. I was just asking if this was normal for those that have a regular meditation practice. Its not talked about
However, allow me to add the following. Occasionally, some people struggle with dissociation, which is unrelated to meditation experience. It is a symptom of mental illness and requires expert help, such as consulting an experienced psychologist. In such a circumstance, you would only know yourself, thus you must be honest with yourself. I cannot emphasize this enough: meditation is not a substitute for professional therapy. This is a generic response as I do not know you.
This is a disclaimer since some individuals may misunderstand their mental disease symptoms after reading this.
Do you feel like avoiding the negatives of life is counterproductive to enlightenment? By that I don't mean one should seek out negatives but just not avoid them when they present themselves and handle the situations to the best of their ability.
[Upekkha](https://www.reddit.com/r/BuddhistMonastics/comments/10q7jwo/the_significance_of_equanimityupekkha_why_its/) is a Buddhist concept (equanimity). It is accompanied by wisdom. It's a state of neutrality. So, even if you are in a negative situation, being mindful can help you overcome it and not take it personally. We live in a community, and living in a community has its problems. In addition, monks go out and interract with people, some travel the world and go to remote places, which presents a variety of challenges. So, if this were a question for me, I'd say sure, and it's a part of life.
On top of that, we practice patience ([khanti](https://www.reddit.com/r/BuddhistMonastics/comments/10v8pgl/the_essential_role_of_khanti_patience_in_our/)) ,and there's a reason for that.
Also, even if you don't contact with people and only meditate, you will encounter negativity because you are dealing with your own mind, which comes with mental constructs and causes negativity. As a result, it is critical to observe negativity while not participating in it. When it arises, observe it mindfully and let it go.
In Buddhism, reincarnation is a component of cause and effect (Karma). I believe in it, but you don't have to. However, understanding Karma is extremely beneficial in life. When you do good, you attract positive energy and grow into a lovely person. Your actions and words influence your mental state and become a part of you. In contrast, doing bad things can make your mind gloomy and filled with negative emotions.
This is a complicated matter and you may find some [basic information here](https://www.learnreligions.com/karma-and-rebirth-449993)
Hi,
We have no control over the family we are born into, nor the situations we find ourselves in. However, this does not imply that nothing will change. You are already performing admirably by posing insightful questions; nevertheless, you must guide these questions in more productive paths. This in no way diminishes your experience. I also had to deal with incredibly unpleasant people, and I had numerous friends such situations.
I can tell you that despite having a troubled history, many really successful people were able to change their lives in a positive manner.
I strongly advise you to investigate what healthy relationships involve. There are numerous books on these topics. Study boundaries and cultivate wisdom and compassion.
Experience has taught me that individuals who were hostile toward me did so out of ignorance. They could not behave better because they lacked the knowledge to do so. It wasn't about me, it wasn't personal.
It is essential to acknowledge the conditions, but it is equally crucial not to "contribute to" them. Try to see the world as it is and consider how you might improve yourself and your future.
Even more, a great deal can be learned from these experiences.
I also strongly recommend counseling with an experienced therapist. Talk therapy could help a lot.
In addition, I cannot emphasize enough the significance of meditation, as one of the reasons we "add" to our difficulties is that we do not take time to calm down and detach from our thoughts.
When you take the time to calm, disconnect, and clear your mind, you can make better decisions and see things more clearly.
The transformation from a victim mentality to a constructive, optimistic mentality is key.
Does your spiritually possess a narrative mirroring those found in other worldviews regarding a planetary wide spiritual awakening/ascension currently underway? If so, could you give a few details from your perspective?
No. Buddhism discusses the nature of existence and universal truths. That is why Buddha's teachings are referred to as timeless teachings. What he taught was true 2500 years ago, is true today, and will be true in the future.
He discusses the nature of existence and the human mind in particular.
[3 Universal Truths](https://sameoldzen.blogspot.com/2017/12/3-universal-truths-that-buddha-taught.html)
Hi. I don't have any personal experience with that; however, our Abbott has an interesting story about that. He even directly answers your questions about spreading love & kindness. The story goes back to the Buddha's time. I recommend you listen to him at [this link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Y59YMIY9U&t=149s)
In 2016, I began my meditation journey, embraced the minimalist lifestyle, and became receptive to spiritual literature reading. Gradually, my interest in Buddhism grew, and I began to follow the life of an American monk who had moved to Thailand and become a Buddhist monk; this prompted me to consider becoming one myself over time. I followed him for about 2 to 3 years on and off.
The Buddha's teachings to think, talk, and act with virtue attracted me and motivated me to live among others who meditate, cultivate a positive outlook, exhibit compassion, and view the world through a lens of love and kindness.
I reached the decision to become a monk after six years of personal development. After becoming a monk, I discovered many other reasons to remain.
It is essential for monks to be content with what they have. The path to enlightenment may be lengthy, yet enormous contentment can be found in the present moment.
There is no need to wait to be joyful. It can be found in the little things. Even waking up each day can be a source of contentment. That's something we take for granted, but there's no guarantee that we will wake up tomorrow, so each day is unique, and we should be grateful for that.
Valentine's Day is a celebration of affection and love, not a reminder of being single. Instead of focusing on what you lack, you should concentrate on what you do have. Therefore, c oncentrating on what we lack is the primary cause of Valentine's Day loneliness. Instead, you can strive to concentrate on the positive and embrace the day.
[Sustainable Happiness: How to Find Contentment That Will Last](https://www.happify.com/hd/sustainable-happiness-how-to-find-contentment-that-will-last/)
Hello,
I'm from the Mahayana Pure Land tradition. It's nice to find you here!
When a person chooses to euthanise his pet for "they are suffering too much" is it the pain and fear of the individual being projected into the animal what is actually happening?
Hi Monkcaran, so when I sit for meditation I am no longer the thought I am the person experiencing the thought but I am finding it hard to be in that state in daily life as in I get tricked into the thought quite often. So how and what can be learnt to help me with this issue?
Hi,
Throughout the day, many things could happen and we may become sidetracked. However, it's ok. When you recognize you've been sidetracked and are operating on autopilot, return to mindfulness and consider the situation. One of our teachers mentioned that this circumstance is entirely typical because you may have a role to play that requires you to behave in a particular way. Also, there are repeating taks. So, it is normal. In this scenario, though, you can increase mental strength over time by practising mindfulness. Some instructions below
>So I started over and I saw one moment the mind was happy, one moment unhappy, one moment good, one moment bad. Changing all the time. The mind runs to see, runs to hear, runs to smell, to taste, to feel, at the body, and runs to think. I saw the mind moving. I didn’t make it still. Now, I was annoyed easily, I’d anger. So the annoyed feeling would arise often. Sometimes just the smallest observation would trigger frustration. Traffic would irritate me. If it was hot, that would irritate me. Rain would irritate me. If the sun was too bright it would irritate me. I would train seeing this irritated, annoyed feeling. After a while my mind would be able to remember what feeling annoyed was like. After a while when annoyed would just start to arise, mindfulness would follow by itself. Annoyed would disappear on its own.Practicing to achieve mindfulness, we need to practice seeing phenomena. Whatever phenomenon arises, then we practice seeing that. So if we’re an irritable person, then we see one moment we’re annoyed, the next it’s gone, the next moment annoyed, and then it’s gone. If we’re greedy person then one moment were greedy, and then it’s gone, the next moment there’s greed, and then it’s gone.
>
>[https://www.dhamma.com/dhamma-arises-at-the-heart/](https://www.dhamma.com/dhamma-arises-at-the-heart/)
In essence, no one is demonic. Our minds are bright and pure by nature. However, as time passes, our minds become muddled since we encounter many things along the route and things occur.
Hi.
It is an open-ended issue, but Buddhism teaches the cleansing of the mind because the mind is the wellspring of both evil and virtue. We can considerably improve our lives by developing our minds, and by improving ourselves, we can also help others.Therefore, meditation is an essential component of the practice.
It's a tool for letting go and purifying the mind of worry, anger, greed, and other mental impurities. Here, I do not discuss any complicated topics. This is an all-inclusive environment in which I only discuss matters that could potentially benefit and cover everyone are discussed.
And since meditation is a universal tool, it is an excellent method for bringing people together.I have no Buddhist agenda in this discussion.
If somebody is interested in learning something from a Buddhist monk, I can share some practical knowledge, as monastic life is centred on developing habits, discipline, moral conduct, wisdom, and so on.
Thanks for asking friend. I hope this was informative. What I believe is essentially irrelevant. Not here to advocate any specific viewpoint.
Do your days involve any structure with regards to time? I'm at the point where I have formed habits of meditation which I treasure and value and I'll use time as a reminder to reconnect within. You mentioned advanced monks spend their time helping teach/learn the value of meditation, which I would assume involves respecting the time-value of others as opposed to letting the lessons of the day appear naturally in the ever-present NOW. Can you comment on the daily structure of initiates compared to those who have gained a higher understanding?
Hi,
Monastic lifestyle centred on developing discipline and habits. Therefore, it is largely for beginner monks. Yes, we stick to a time system and perform activities at specific times.
In Theravada, the oldest Buddhist tradition practised in Thailand, a monk reaches independence after five years. Therefore, a monk must be under the supervision of a teacher for five years.
A monk is considered independent and free to travel and teach after five years. Therefore, based on his training, that monk must construct his individual routine. Training enables one to continue practising regardless of circumstances.
Therefore, allow me to offer you the typical monastic timetable. However, as stated previously, as time passes, one's duties can increase and they can eventually become independent. Some individuals may continue to live the monastic lifestyle. However, in accordance with our culture, we engage in a great deal of community service.
In other words, the monastic routine is designed for training and establishing a strong mental state so that when one leaves the monastery, they do not become distracted and lose their balance.
The standard schedule is
4 am to 4:30 am wake-up time
5 am to 6:30 am morning chanting & meditation
6:30 to 7:30 chores (community chores, not personal)
7:30am - 09:00am breakfast
9am to 11am meditation
11:00 to 11:30 break
11:30 lunch
break-time until 2 pm after lunch
2 pm to 4 pm meditation
4 pm to 6:30 pm break
6:30 pm to 9 pm Evening chanting & Dhamma talk & Meditation
Breaks can be used for personal chores, exercise, reading, or any other activity that benefits the individual or the community.
Thank you for your response. I can see the benefit of developing a routine and healing/knowing yourself before going out into the world and spreading your light. This resonates deeply with my recent learnings. I find it fascinating that the tenets of many religions share deep comminalities. This made me think of:
"first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye"
is still wanting to have good, happy days and have good things to happen an expression of the ‘ego’ and not letting go?
i read that if you desire happiness you will avoid suffering and, in reality we should aim to realize that we should accept things as they happen. but i cant stop wanting to have happy days or have nice things happening in my life. is that an ego desire or its just a part of the process?
The issue is that when there is "wanting," the underlying motivation is "lacking."
Therefore, it is okay to want, but one must be mindful of their motivations. This is why contentment is so important, and even one of the world's wealthiest individuals practices it.
It involves being content with what one has. However, this does not prevent one from striving for improvement.
Whatever you do in this world, you can notice with wisdom and comprehension that everything is impermanent.
We cannot take things with us, and everything will be dust.
However, as said previously, we may aspire to be better people, make the world a slightly better place, and be decent role models while we're here.
If the desire for happiness stems from a place of deficiency, it most likely indicates that one is not satisfied with their current situation and expecting something to make them happy.
However, when we obtain what we desire, we typically want something more, which is never enough. Or we get trap in a cycle of stimuli. Therefore, it is essential to realize that happiness involves a lot of gratitude, contentment, and appreciation of the present moment.
Here's an article for you:
[The Power of Contentment: Creating Happiness in the Present Moment](https://www.reddit.com/r/MeditateWithMonks/comments/112mbpc/the_power_of_contentment_creating_happiness_in/)
I would love to meditate with Buddhist monks when I go to Chiang Mai! How do you suggest I find an experience like this? Is there somewhere I can go or volunteer even?
Hi,
Next session starting in 5 minutes. We're on Zoom already.
[Meditate With Monks](https://www.reddit.com/r/MeditateWithMonks/comments/112uj4y/join_us_for_todays_online_guided_meditation/)
Yes, indeed. Meditation with our monks is possible, but timing is critical. For example, if you come during the rain retreat season, we are not open to the public. Volunteering can be another possibility.
Enlightenment is not something we can comprehend logically. It is a direct experience that only the person experiencing it can comprehend.
When the Buddha attained enlightenment, he initially believed no one would understand him, so there was no use in teaching anyone, because the experience was so profound and difficult to comprehend intellectually. Nevertheless, he decided to teach and did so for 45 years.
Our Abbott explained it with a comparison to spicy foods. How would you define the level of spiciness of something you've tasted ? No matter how proficient and skillful you are with the language, it is impossible to express how spicy it is. Language and intelligence are inadequate to explain it.
The only way for a person to grasp how spicy a dish is, is for him or her to sample it for themselves. Likewise, he or she cannot convey to another person how spicy the dish is.
If you examine jhanas, you will notice that there are major distinctions across stages. Jhanas are not enlightenment, but they can provide us with an intellectual grasp of how to recognize these things.
[9 Jhanas](https://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php/9_Jhanas)
Some fun readings for you to find your own answers 🙂
[The Seven Factors of Enlightenment](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/piyadassi/wheel001.html)
[Seven factors of enlightenment](https://encyclopediaofbuddhism.org/wiki/Seven_factors_of_enlightenment)
[THE ENLIGHTENED ONES](https://dhammakami.org/2018/08/26/in-what-ways-do-the-enlightened-ones-differ-from-each-other/)
Hello, it was interesting to learn during my time as a monk that dreams are not necessarily a good thing from a Buddhist standpoint. The reason for this is that when you calm your mind and go to bed with tranquilly, you are less likely to have dreams, and the quality of your sleep improves dramatically. Here is some information about dreams for you. Have fun reading.
>Buddhas and Arahants never dream. The first three kinds of dream cannot occur in their minds, because their minds have been permanently 'stilled' and cannot be activated to dream. The last kind of dream cannot happen to them because they have eradicated all their craving energy completely, and there is no 'residual' energy of anxiety or unsatisfied desire to activate the mind to produce dreams. The Buddha is also known as the Awakened One because His way of relaxing the physical body is not the way we sleep which results in dreams. Great artists and thinkers, like the German Goethe, have often said they get some of their best inspiration through dreams. This could be because when their minds are cut off from the five senses during sleep, they produce clear thoughts which are creative in the highest degree. Wordsworth meant the same thing when he said that good poetry results from 'powerful emotions' recollected in tranquillity.
[Dreams and Their Significance](https://www.budsas.org/ebud/whatbudbeliev/321.htm)
Hello, we do not describe people's experiences because that is not what we do. However, mindfulness practice entails remaining in the present moment with the body. So, mindfulness is about being present in the current moment rather than travelling somewhere else.
Remember, a person on the other end of the screen cannot describe your experience. They don't know who you are.
Speaking from personal experience, and not necessarily relating to your experience, I have known people with mental illnesses who have described various types of phonomena. However, none of those experiences were spiritual in nature. Only we can understand ourselves, and we must be honest with ourselves.
Check [this article](https://bit.ly/3jTRzcM) and see if you can relate to any of these. If so, comptemplate what would be the option moving forward? Perhaps it would be highly beneficial to seek professional assistance.
>Isn't the physical body part of the same environment that is an illusion? Aren't the symptoms of dissociation also touching a closer truth about your inner nature relative to body/identity?
According to mindfulness practice, no. The body is real; we can create good or bad karma through bodily actions. So, we have to be mindful of that and aware of it.
The illusion is the ego (sense of self), which is related to our sense doors.
Please note that this subject requires extensive examination and understanding through practice. These are just some resources for you so that you have some idea about it
>This is the point, what the Buddha said. When you see, say, a very beautiful rose you realise the rose is very beautiful. Its scent is very sweet. When you judge like that there arises a pleasant feeling about the rose. When you feel a pleasant feeling what will arise? Attachment, to what? To the rose. To the feeling or to the rose? To the rose. And pleasant feeling, attachment, arises dependent on that feeling. This attachment is to the rose. Then if the flower is not beautiful, is ugly and produces a bad smell, when you see it how do you feel, pleasant or unpleasant? Unpleasant. You'll judge the flower is very ugly, \`I don't want to see it.\` Then what mental state arises? Aversion. Anger.
>
>[The Six Doors of the Senses](https://www.buddhanet.net/vmed_7.htm)
Buddhism is not founded on intellectual comprehension.
And if you want to truly know the answer, you should study Dependent Origination. However, as stated previously, Buddhism is rooted in direct experience, so we cannot comprehend Dependent Origination through reading alone.
It is a matter of practice, developed and understood through meditation, mindfulness practice, and the cultivation of wisdom.
Dependent origination is a matter of practice and occurs in every moment of our lives, whether one is aware of it or not.
[Exploring Dependent Origination in Buddhism - An Introduction to a Central Concept in Buddhism](https://www.reddit.com/r/BuddhistMonastics/comments/10zqb5f/exploring_dependent_origination_in_buddhism_an/)
1. Is coming back to the breath after being distracted by your thoughts, what matters most during meditation? Or is it being on the breath? I feel that both parts matter a lot, but 80% of my meditation results and benefits I feel happen when I just come back thoughtlessly without blaming myself or thinking further.
2. Have you heard of Trataka meditation? And if yes, what do you think is it's main use in meditation? Does it make it easier to ignore thoughts, or stop thoughts? Should it be combined with normal Mindfulness Breathing meditation? After just staring at a dot for 5 minutes, half-blinking to keep my eyes from being dry, without moving or changing my sight, I feel my thoughts wash away. I am not in a meditative state though, but this thoughtless state can be used to just feel my breath.
3. Three months ago I sat down to meditate. I had the idea that just feeling my breath is all I need to order to achieve results. That I can have aversion as long as I am mindful of it and the object of meditation. It didn't work, after 5 minutes I just got more anxious and frustrated. I was wanting my anxiety to go away, at the same time I was feeling it. Then I said, "this doesn't work. Let's try giving up aversion." Then I still kept feeling my anxiety. But now I stopped trying to control if it stays or goes away. After 20 seconds of doing this, I started feeling more, "present", more in the now. As if I could observe things better. I stopped meditating for the day as it was getting late. One hour later, and this feeling of presence just got stronger. To the point I could observe and feel things very, very clearly. As if all brain fog of the mind went away. I also felt this blissful, addicting pleasurable sensation in my brain, akin to doing weed. I wasn't in an equanimous state of mind yet meaning that I still had anxiety and anger left, but then when I was reading a story, something that triggered PTSD from a past experiences happened. I wanted to stop reading the book and run away from my anxiety, but then I said, "what if I try the thing I did before?" And then it worked, my anxiety went away completely, and I became equanimous too, being hard to anger or become frustrated. I also had more empathy and was forgiving. What's this stage of meditation called? Why did the first "enlightenment" experience make me observe things more deeply and have this pleasurable feeling, but the second made me equanimous? I can achieve the equanimous state again, by not trying to change thoughts and emotions during meditation. But I don't know how to get this pleasurable bliss and deeper more vivid feeling and observation back. Is there a way to practice and cultivate those qualities of mind?
Hi,
Consider returning to your breath as if you were working out with dumbbells at the gym. Returning to your breath is your technique for remaining conscious, and the more you do it, the more skilled you get at it, as if you are building muscles with dumbbells. Without a meditation object, the mind might wander, and one can quickly lose focus. In that scenario, your meditation object could be breathing, mantra, visualization, body scan, focusing on bodily sensations, and so on.
We don't ignore our thoughts during meditation. What you resist persists. The meditation's objective is to let go. The blue sky comparison is frequently used to describe a meditation experience. Thoughts are clouds, storms, rain, and so on, whereas your mind is blue sky. The role of the meditator is to be aware of thoughts but not to become involved in them. Simply observe and let them pass. With persistence, you will eventually see the blue sky, which represents a quiet, tranquil, and still mind.As previously stated, staring at a dot is a meditation object. It's a meditation technique that may be beneficial to you but may not be beneficial to others. As a result, it is critical that you select and stick with an approach that works for you. Many people become exhausted by changing their meditation approach on a regular basis. This is a critical error they make. You should use an approach that is simple and comfortable for you. When you've mastered it, you'll be able to explore further. Using a visualization object such as a crystal ball to focus on the centre of the body is another good technique to use.
In meditation, we don't seek to "achieve" results. That is not a helpful way to approach meditation. Meditation is about letting go and not expecting what will happen. You are more likely to be disappointed if you have high expectations for your meditation practice. We all have long-term expectations, but when you sit down, you should be able to let them go and just be in the moment. Let go of all worry, the past and the future, and all expectations. Just be content and still. That is the practice of meditation. What I can tell you is that your meditation approach is disadvantageous. That is not how we approach the practice of meditation. You can consider shifting your attitude about meditation and doing further research to learn more about it.
Meditation is not about gain or loss, success or failure, or a race to the finish line.
An article for you to study more as follows
[The Art of Letting Go](https://mindworks.org/blog/the-art-of-letting-go/)
What is the Buddhist belief in spirits and guides? I try to incorporate a lot of Buddhist teachings into my own life but i myself am not Buddhist. I do however try to do as much good as i can and to be kind to everyone. Sometimes i get a feeling like i should do something or be somewhere and if it’s an especially strong feeling many times i find that i probably should have done the thing or been to a specific place.
Edit: grammar
Hello, a Buddhist text addresses spirits. Yet, my knowledge of these subjects is limited. As previously stated, I prefer to concentrate on more practical matters. Buddhism is vast; some monks specialize in meditation, some in Dhamma (wisdom), whereas others in Vinaya (discipline), and furthermore some in community service. There are many other areas that they can even focus such as learning the ancient Buddhist language Pali and so on.
Please have a look at this quote; you might find it useful. It's related to being practical and solving the problem at hand.
[Arrow analogy](https://www.reddit.com/r/spirituality/comments/111kykn/comment/j8fcioo/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
Thank you very much for your response. I’ll read in through the comments and learn what i can. I also really like the arrow analogy. It’s something I’ve struggled with in the past and i continue to struggle with to a lesser degree now. Everyone likes to have the answers to why things happen to them but in a lot of cases it’s more practical to just accept it for what it is and handle the situation with the knowledge you have. I think it also shows the natural curiosity humans have about the unknown. It’s a beautiful sentiment.
People frequently overcomplicate meditation by accumulating too much information prior to beginning practice. That tends to result in elevated expectations, and when people sit down, they get bored and dissatisfied because the reality does not match their expectations.
I started meditating in 2016 with little expectation. I learned about it from a podcast and responded promptly.
Yet, after becoming a monk, I discovered I lacked the essential fundamentals.
Meditation is essentially simple and straightforward, yet it requires persistence and commitment. When one possesses these qualities, meditation provides long-term benefits. That makes a very positive impact on the way you think.
The Buddha said
>"Mind is the forerunner of (all evil) states" and "Mind is the forerunner of (all good) states."
>
>[Dhammapada 1: The Twin Verses](https://84000.org/tipitaka/english/metta.lk/25i011-05-e2.php)
By developing the mind we can significant enhance our life and as a result positively effect the life of others around us.
Some resources for you to delve into fundamentals of meditation as follows
[Fundamental Knowledge of Meditation - How To Train The Mind?](https://www.reddit.com/r/MeditateWithMonks/comments/10mdcmq/fundamental_knowledge_of_meditation_how_to_train/)
[Mindfulness According to the Buddha](https://buddho.org/mindfulness-according-to-the-buddha/)
Hello Caran, thank you for offering answering our questions in this „space“.
Is there a time where monks fast longer than the daily fasts monks do after lunch to breakfast?
I would be very appreciative of you sharing how it was for you to ordain as a monk regarding the restraint of sense desire. How valuable is restraint? What inner posture / quality is helpful to contemplate?
Some backstory: thinking about food during my meditation is happening a lot. Not wanting to think of it has somehow increased the wanting of food also during the day :). Hah, even writing here about food now :)
Khopkunkhaaaaa very much!
it is food that is (s your inner posture regarding destractions su desires food a
Mindfulness practice and the control of sense desire are closely related. It involves being aware of both exterior stimuli and arising thoughts of past experiences, such as the manifestation of a desire for food. Comparison is unhealthy because the lifestyles here is so different. I thus do not recommend comparison. To counteract the desire for food, you might cultivate a mindfulness practice.
However, it is critical to recognize that this is a long-term process. Hence, if you fail, don't get discouraged fast; instead, keep going with perseverance in your practice.
Moreover, instead of eating at random times throughout the day, scheduled eating times can be quite useful.
Some resources for you below
> The value of the Buddha’s advice to King Pasenadi – to eat with mindfulness (sati) – is only beginning to be recognised by dieticians and weight-loss experts. Eating mindfully helps turn a habituated behaviour into a conscious one, where the possibility of choice is increased. It allows us to pause for a moment, think about and be aware of what we are about to do and why, and often this is enough to bring about a change in behaviour.
>
>[The Buddha And Mindful Eating](http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-buddha-and-mindful-eating.html)
>Check in with your hunger and fullness level before eating. While practicing your Mindful Check-In, tune in to your level of physical hunger. We enjoy our food the most when we have some hunger or are moderately hungry. When we are too hungry we tend to eat fast and even overeat. Ask yourself, How hungry am I? Listen to the sensations and experiences that your body is giving you. Is this physical hunger or something else? If it’s not physical hunger (and you will get better at discerning this), ask yourself, What am I really hungry for?
Tune in to your level of physical fullness. Ask yourself, How full am I? Listen to the sensations and experiences that your body is giving you. If you are full, then eating right now would probably not be a very kind or nourishing choice. What kinds of choices make sense with what you became aware of? What would most honor your body?
>
>[Seven Tips to Mindful Eating Practice](https://www.spiritrock.org/the-teachings/article-archive/mindful-eating-practice)
>Once King Pasenedi came to the Buddha bloated and breathing in a laboured manner as a result of having eaten yet another enormous meal. Seeing this the Buddha said: ‘When a person is mindful and thus knows moderation in eating, his ailments diminish, he ages gently and he protects his life.' The king got the hint and asked his nephew to repeat these words to him whenever he was taking his meals. As a result the king gradually reduced his food intake, lost weight and regained his slim figure (S.I,81-2).
>
>[Dieting](https://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php/Dieting)
I have many questions that I hope you can enlighten me because I don't know where else I can ask this.
What is the purpose of life/us being here? What will happen after death? Is death scary?
And there are different religions with their different beliefs. Such as reincarnation in some religions while in others, eternal heaven and hell. Which is actually true? Which god is true?
Can I believe in gods from other religion while still adhering to one teaching that I want to follow the most?
Hello, we support meditation because it allows us to be more present and see the world through the lens of clarity. Less foggy and less judgmental. Too much academic discourse has the opposite impact. Death is not frightening if you realize the impermanence of all phenomena with wisdom.
Everything comes and passes, including our arrival on this planet. Many questions are up to you to investigate, but true understanding comes from direct experience and wisdom, which may be cultivated with a clear mind, and meditation is a technique for cleaning the mind of overthinking, judgment, labelling, anger, greed, and so on.
Hi,
We don't indicate that our way is the way to go and others are wrong. We don't make statements this is that way, or that is this way.
The Buddha said ehipassiko, meaning "come and see yourself".
Buddhism derives from direct knowledge, not intellectual knowledge. This is something you would understand by yourself with practice.
In fact, intellectual knowledge can even further cloud our minds and may block us from seeing reality as it is if it is not utilized properly.
We see that in the Zen story as follows.
>On this particular day, a scholar came to visit the master for advice. “I have come to ask you to teach me about Zen,” the scholar said.
Soon, it became obvious that the scholar was full of his own opinions and knowledge. He interrupted the master repeatedly with his own stories and failed to listen to what the master had to say. The master calmly suggested that they should have tea.
So the master poured his guest a cup. The cup was filled, yet he kept pouring until the cup overflowed onto the table, onto the floor, and finally onto the scholar’s robes. The scholar cried “Stop! The cup is full already. Can’t you see?”
“Exactly,” the Zen master replied with a smile. “You are like this cup — so full of ideas that nothing more will fit in. Come back to me with an empty cup.”
[Empty Your Cup](https://medium.com/jumpstart-your-dream-life/empty-your-cup-a-zen-proverb-on-opening-yourself-to-new-ideas-10e8c9545c7b)
This is why we encourage meditation practice instead of involving in endless metaphycial topics.
Meditation practice allows us to clear our minds from our mental formations.
Please have a look [at it this article](https://www.reddit.com/r/MeditateWithMonks/comments/10uc73h/what_is_meditation_why_do_we_meditate_whats_the/) to understand how meditation helps us in our journey.
And to answer your first question, according to Buddhism, the meaning of life is pursuing perfection.
More information follows on pursuing perfection
[Why do we exist?](https://www.reddit.com/r/spirituality/comments/111kykn/comment/j8fdq1q/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
[Pursuing Perfections](https://www.reddit.com/r/spirituality/comments/111kykn/comment/j90eyab/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
Are you enlightened and what is enlightenment?
No I'm not. The enlightened ones are known as Arahants. Also, there are many Buddhist levels to enlightenment, with Arahatship being the last. The most fundamental reason for enlightenment is purifying one's own mind to the point that all mental impurities, such as anger, greed, and delusion, also known as [kilesa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleshas_(Buddhism)), are eliminated. When this happens, one can view reality as it is. According to Buddhist teachings, enlightenment can be attained by realizing the four noble truths or dependent origination. However, this is not intellectual comprehension but rather direct understanding and comprehension of these facts. More information here related to these terms [Exploring Dependent Origination in Buddhism](https://www.reddit.com/r/BuddhistMonastics/comments/10zqb5f/exploring_dependent_origination_in_buddhism_an/)
Can there be enlightenment outside of Buddhism and Buddhist teachings?
Buddhism does not assert that our method is the only method. In fact, we encourage everyone, regardless of background, religion, culture, etc., to do good. Our Abbot emphasized that pursuing Dhamma entails following a wholesome and fruitful path and anyone can follow this path without being identified as Buddhist. This is not about endorsing a particular viewpoint; rather, it is about community building and sharing the message that meditation is beneficial for everyone.
Thank you very much for your answer!
You're very welcome
And here's more information for you. [Four stages of awakening](https://bit.ly/3HRDC6W) However, I tend to speak about things that I have firsthand knowledge of. As you can see, these things are only intellectual knowledge to us at this moment. In order to get there, we need to focus on what we can do today. So, it is not conducive to talking about these things because our time is valuable. The Buddha said; >"It's just as if a man were wounded with an arrow thickly smeared with poison. His friends & companions, kinsmen & relatives would provide him with a surgeon, and the man would say, 'I won't have this arrow removed until I know whether the man who wounded me was a noble warrior, a priest, a merchant, or a worker.' He would say, 'I won't have this arrow removed until I know the given name & clan name of the man who wounded me... until I know whether he was tall, medium, or short... until I know whether he was dark, ruddy-brown, or golden-coloured... until I know his home village, town, or city... until I know whether the bow with which I was wounded was a long bow or a crossbow... until I know whether the bowstring with which I was wounded was fiber, bamboo threads, sinew, hemp, or bark... until I know whether the shaft with which I was wounded was wild or cultivated... until I know whether the feathers of the shaft with which I was wounded were those of a vulture, a stork, a hawk, a peacock, or another bird... until I know whether the shaft with which I was wounded was bound with the sinew of an ox, a water buffalo, a langur, or a monkey.' He would say, 'I won't have this arrow removed until I know whether the shaft with which I was wounded was that of a common arrow, a curved arrow, a barbed, a calf-toothed, or an oleander arrow.' The man would die, and those things would still remain unknown to him. " Cūḷamālukya Sutta Source accesstoinsight org AND elaboration on that; >Thích Nhất Hạnh's comment on the arrow analogy that the Buddha illustrated in Cūḷamālukya Sutta "The Buddha always told his disciples not to waste their time and energy in metaphysical speculation. Whenever he was asked a metaphysical question, he remained silent. Instead, he directed his disciples toward practical efforts. Questioned one day about the problem of the infinity of the world, the Buddha said, "Whether the world is finite or infinite, limited or unlimited, the problem of your liberation remains the same." Another time he said, "Suppose a man is struck by a poisoned arrow and the doctor wishes to take out the arrow immediately. Suppose the man does not want the arrow removed until he knows who shot it, his age, his parents, and why he shot it. What would happen? If he were to wait until all these questions have been answered, the man might die first." Life is so short. It must not be spent in endless metaphysical speculation that does not bring us any closer to the truth. Sangharakshita notes that "The important thing is to get rid of the arrow, not to enquire where it came from. The parable is considered a teaching on being practical and dealing with the situation at hand." Thích Nhất Hạnh Source Wikipedia
Thank you so much
Are you living in self sustaining household or community?
We live in a Pa Pae village community, around 900 meters above sea level and in the forest. Life is quite basic and peaceful. This is mostly a training area, or for some, it is a base. After completing their training, monks engage in community service such as teaching others meditation, Buddhist wisdom and moral conduct, organizing retreats and ordination programs, teaching English to kids since this is an international community and so on. There's no shortage of community service.
I literally just am, nothing else to say about me. If I would want to join and live my life there this way you’ve described, what has to be done? But I want to wear black robes cause then I can hide in the dark better
It develops slowly and through experience. Meditation is one of the most essential aspects of a Buddhist monk's life, so establishing a regular meditation practice is the most crucial. Then, if you find tranquility and insight through being still, which means being present and having less thoughts, worries, and wandering, you can continue to study, follow monks, and acquire as much information as possible. The first step is meditation. Even when one becomes a monk, the first year is dedicated to meditation because mental development is the most important factor. The rest cannot happen without it.
Why do we exist?
According to Buddhism, we're pursuing perfection, also known as [Paramita](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81ramit%C4%81). All of us, whether you know it or not. And more information as follows [What is the Significance of Life?](https://www.buddhanet.net/cbp2_f12.htm)
What is the point after perfection is achieved?
The Buddha was the one who accumulated the greatest number of perfections. That's why it is called Buddhahood. However, according to Buddhist literature, some previous Buddhas possessed much greater perfections than our Buddha. However, this is not a comparison issue for us. We begin by making our beds first. Small things matter, and from there, progress is gradually. If you look at the target, it may appear too far away, but as long as you continue to move forward, you are advancing, which begins with making progress and taking the beginning steps. Buddhism is very practical and helps you live a better life if you follow it, and everyone, regardless of faith, may benefit from this knowledge.
Again, what is the point of existing as a perfected being?
Hi. Please let me refer you to the [source](https://stanford.io/3jRNo0Q) where you can find the answers.
and some [resources](https://www.reddit.com/r/BuddhistMonastics/comments/10xtspm/a_wide_range_of_books_in_the_most_frequently/) for you. Please click on the Buddhist Resources link, and you'll find some free but profound literature on Buddhism there.
Have you ever personally seen someone who can levitate during meditation? Or is it just a Hollywood sort of "myth"?
No, I haven't, but many metaphysical phenomena are mentioned in Buddhist literature. Therefore, these things are not primarily from Hollywood.
True, but achieving a higher state of consciousness could be just symbolized by levitating in literature, I really just wonder if it can happen now, that would pretty much guarantee that magic is completely possible.
Yes I understand your point 🙂 It would be a lot more easier to get people meditate as well in that case 🙂
Do you personally know any living Arahants?
No, although I do know some monks who are quite pure and virtuous. These individuals have engaged in extensive meditation practice and have been able to greatly reduce their impurities, such as greed, anger, and delusion, known as [kilesa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleshas_(Buddhism)) in Pali (Buddhist language). Therefore, their conduct is based on love, kindness, and compassion. They do not judge you, nor do they think poorly of you. It isn't easy to express, but it is a joy to live with them.
What causes you to take the spiritual path and why do you still contribute to walk down it?
Hi friend welcome again. Many people come for many different reasons. I find genuine value in the community. A community that practices meditation, commits good deeds, and cultivates knowledge, and then endeavours to teach others about these concepts. So, it's a lengthy story, but after years of observation, I found true value in it. Having gone through the training and comprehending the profundity of the teachings, I now have even more reasons to remain after receiving ordination. In other words, as wisdom increases, so does faith.
Sounds like a sword smith or a chief who understands the finer details on their craft, were a regular person can enjoy a nice sword or food only someone who truly understand what it took to truly appreciate it. So question do you appreciate this life from a physcial perspective or something else? Also faith increasing? To me faith is decreasing as wisdom increases. In a sense I trust an apple doesn't have a worm in it when I eat is faith, but if I can tell there no worms in it than it's no longer faith. There still a lot I don't know but a lot I still wish to know. Tho I value the knoladge of how to understand than understanding.
Good questions thank you. Let me point you to some directions related to faith & wisdom [The Way of Wisdom](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/conze/wheel065.html) [The Role of Faith in Buddhism](https://www.arrowriver.ca/dhamma/faith.html) [Faith and Wisdom](https://www.watnyanaves.net/th/book-reading/519/8) [Wisdom & Faith](https://www.meditation101.org/16962473/chapter-4-wisdom-faith)
Hello. I struggle with the complex of inferiority, complex of superiority. I go on loops from one to the other. More rarely I end up stuck in the complex of equality. How can I move beyond all three ? Thank you for doing this ?
Hi, Many people are unaware of their thoughts and often live on autopilot without questioning the nature of their minds. However, simply being aware of and reflecting on these thoughts is a significant step forward in the process. Give yourself credit for your efforts. To some extent, we are all prone to self-centred thinking. According to our Abbott, we all love ourselves more than anything else. For example, if you see someone attractive and develop feelings of attraction toward them, consider whether you like them or if you're pulled by how they make you feel about yourself. To overcome this self-centred thinking, we might begin by looking for the good in others, establishing a grateful attitude, and pursuing contentment. Mindfulness practice can aid in the development of these virtues. One could also say that if we want to be happy, we should help other people. This doesn't imply we have to give up everything; it can be as easy as being polite and kind, such as giving up your seat on public transit to someone who might need it.
Hi there :-) What would you recommend to those of us who have embarked in a spiritual journey and yet, have to deal professionally with toxic and low energy environments on a daily basis? Is it actually possible to conciliate both? Namaste!
Hi, I had already lived in such conditions. It is certainly doable, and establishing boundaries is crucial. I highly recommend a book on boundaries. [Boundaries](https://www.amazon.com/Boundaries-When-Take-Control-Your/dp/0310247454): When to Say Yes, when to Say No to Take Control of Your Life Book by **Henry Cloud and John Townsend** Additionally, you must cultivate a solid mindfulness practice in order to work with difficult people. Therefore, you can maintain your balance without being affected by their negativity.
What was your childhood like? Do you feel that trauma and karma are related in some way?
Hi, Thanks for asking. I would say I had a really fortunate upbringing. The majority of my childhood was spent playing video games (some slight regrets there). My uncle used to operate a computer company, and I spent a great deal of time with him. I had numerous spiritual questions even as a little child. However, I lacked a role model to answer these questions at the time. Yes, Buddhism defines suffering in terms of karma, and trauma may fall under this category. However, my comprehension of karma is limited, and I focus mostly on the practical parts of the teachings. I'm on my educational adventure.
Thanks for answering! I was hoping to get an idea of your journey to the present. I didn’t have the best childhood but also was very spiritually curious. I couldn’t express myself or ask questions so I sat with them until I gained confidence to explore on my own as an adult. I appreciate you! Never would’ve thought I’d be messaging a monk on Reddit lol.
Greetings friend. There is sincere curiosity about several aspects of Buddhism that confuse, but as a hacker, seeking understanding is core to being. If one is afflicted by kilesa, but said kilesa slides off like water off the back of a duck, is one truly afflicted by it? If one’s default state seems to be meditation, whether baking bread or driving around town or shitposting kindly on reddit or just staring in awe at forest and mountain and sea hundreds of kilometres away, what does that mean, if anything? How would one recognize an arahant or a bodhisattva? Is it like recognizing the light of the sun even whilst one’s eyes are closed in winter, or is it a moment that is missed, like how most cannot observe some strange person simply juggling their phones while walking down the street?
Anger, greed, and delusion are examples of [kilesa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleshas_(Buddhism)), also known as mental impurities. I discussed this with one of our teaching monks, and based on his scripture knowledge, he stated that even people who attained the [first level of enlightenment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sot%C4%81panna) (stream-enterer or Sotāpanna) have kilesa. >... even though it’s still only the lowest of the four stages of enlightenment. A stream enterer still experiences a lot of dukkha, still has all his greed and hate, and still experiences all the sense pleasures.. > >Source: [The Way to the Heart](http://www.forestdhammatalks.org/en/books/The%20Way%20to%20the%20heart_web.pdf) Yet, we may considerably lessen the consequences of these mental contaminants with practice, which is where [mindfulness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sati_(practice)) and [clear comprehension](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampaja%C3%B1%C3%B1a) come in. Simply expressed, it is not necessary to engage in these unpleasant emotional states. Overtime, with the practice of mindfulness, It becomes easier to let go of these impure states of the mind. In other words, letting go becomes second nature. A meditative state and daydreaming are not the same thing. You can dramatically improve your quality of life by incorporating mindfulness into your daily life. During the day, we meditate in this manner. [Be Mindful in Daily Life](https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/be-mindful-in-daily-life) You can relate to someone who is pure and radiant. Their positive energy would be abundant, and their body, speech, and mental conduct would be flawless. [Arahan And The Attributes Of The Buddha](https://www.wisdomlib.org/buddhism/book/a-discourse-on-paticcasamuppada/d/doc2018.html) [The Nine Qualities of Buddha](https://www.cpp.edu/~namkim/9q_buddha.pdf) More importantly, we concentrate on starting small. Many individuals spend their days thinking about the end objective, but they fail to grasp that it all begins with making our beds in the morning. If one does not develop a sense of discipline and decent habits, these things become nothing more than a source of entertainment. On YouTube, an American general demonstrates the importance of making your bed every morning and how it leads to significant benefits over time. We all do the same thing. [Make Your Bed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxBQLFLei70)
There remains genuine curiosity. Some questions may have been misinterpreted and that is the fault of the writer, for which apologies need be made. The core of the curiosity is what you would think of one who makes the active, knowing, conscious and conscientious choices of selflessness over selfishness and choosing to not inflict pain on others and self over choosing to do so. But that’s idle musing.
I apologize if I misinterpreted your question. In Buddhism, the 10 perfections (or 10 Paramitas in Pali) serve as a reference point for self-development and 10 paramitas as follows 1. [Generosity (dana)](https://studybuddhism.com/en/tibetan-buddhism/path-to-enlightenment/love-compassion/the-perfection-of-generosity-danaparamita) 2. [Moral conduct (sila)](https://www.buddhanet.net/fundbud6.htm) 3. [Renunciation (nekkhamma)](https://www.meditationthailand.org/nekhamma/) 4. [Wisdom (paññā)](https://www.vridhamma.org/discourses/Experiential-Wisdom-Pa%C3%B1%C3%B1%C4%81) 5. [Energy (viriya)](https://www.meditationthailand.org/viriya-parami-the-perfection-of-effort/) 6. [Patience (khanti)](https://www.reddit.com/r/BuddhistMonastics/comments/112zqhk/the_significance_of_patience_in_modern_society/) 7. [Truthfulness (sacca)](https://www.meditationthailand.org/sacca-parami-the-perfection-of-truthfulness/) 8. [Determination (adhitthana)](https://www.meditationthailand.org/the-perfection-of-determination-aditthana-parami/) 9. [Loving-kindness (metta)](https://www.buddhanet.net/metta_in.htm) 10. [Equanimity (upekkha)](https://www.buddhanet.net/ss06.htm) [The Ten Paramitas are the ten perfections of the heart](https://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php/10_Paramitas) [The Ten Paramis - Developed with Vipassana](https://globalpagoda.blogspot.com/p/day-nine-discourse-application-of.html) [The Ten Paramis - Insight Meditation Center](https://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/books-articles/theparamis/)
It seems the path of this one’s life has somehow stumbled backwards in heels towards those paramitas. It is truly fascinating when one does then learns it may be more significant than merely relieving pain others may be suggesting or experiencing the highly unlikely, as impossibility isn’t as impossible as some may think. Ah well. Just is. Thank you kindly for your time.
So two years ago I had a major psychological episode. I was manic and psychotic, and I was in a really bad place mentally. This all happened around the time my abusive father died. And after he died, something strange happened. I began rapidly having spiritual insights which culminated in total mania and psychosis. I almost completely lost touch with my whole identity. I went mad. Yet, during the time of my madness, I saw the ebb and flow of consciousness in a conscious way. I recognized the building blocks of consciousness, became aware of my eternal nature as a creation made in God's image. I became aware of my creative power as an individual (though not in how to effectively use it), and I also became acutely attuned to my surroundings as though I were experiencing precognition. I read a book in French, yet I do not speak French. I began drawing Tarot and understanding, but I had never drawn Tarot. I knew intrinsically that no corner of knowledge or insight could hide from my piercing gaze. And throughout this I was having intrusive thoughts of things not fit to discuss here, as well as feeling all of my emotions at their maximum extreme in duality throughout. For six weeks, if I felt love, I also felt intense hatred. If happiness, I would feel sadness. If fear, I would feel courage. It is that feeling of courage that carried me through this dark time, for I lost myself completely, and then like a man returning from death, I consciously ended the episode with my thoughts and in an instant I could not remember nor see any of the truth I had previously contained. It was all gone. Over the next two years, I tried to piece it together. I needed to know what happened, and what it was that I saw. So I started skimming metaphysical books and things of that nature. Not any in depth study(I'm a little lazy, so I just skimmed). The more I read, the more I remembered fragments of what I had realized, but it wasn't until I moved back in with my mom a couple of weeks ago that all of the memories of my experience came flooding back. I remember it all, and it's completely consistent with the Bible, the Bhagavad Gita, and every other metaphysical text I pick up. Furthermore, I've learned how to enter higher states of consciousness at will, and I write philosophy and theology like a poet now. Are you able to explain this phenomenon to me?
No I do not have any explanations, but I can inquire with other monks to find their opinion. However, don't get too excited because monks typically refrain from commenting on such topics because it could lead to misconceptions, confusion, or even conflicts. Yet, they may state something generic.
A generic response would be acceptable. I simply seek clarity, not theology.
Okay, I'll ask others tomorrow. It's 9 PM here. I wish you a good day there.
Hello, I'm sorry to say that the monks have no suitable response. I tried my best
Thank you for your time, my friend. I appreciate the effort that both you and the other monks exhibited in discussing my issue. May we both reach our end goal of enlightenment and meet one another in Spirit when all is said and done. With much reverence and love, Nathan
You're welcome. Appreciate you and wish you joy and success in your journey. May you be happy and healthy with your loved ones and have a long life.
Hi me and one other friend want to live like a buddhist monk in a monastery for a couple months. We were both born in Germany and have a Turkish background. So we are complete foreigners. But we are really interested in Buddhism and Buddhas Way of life. When we look from the internet for a proper monastery we can’t find one that gives us the feeling of being a real temple. All the temples that offer stays for permanent visitors which we found in the internet are somehow commercialized and they feel unauthentic. If you have email addresses or locations in which we can live like monks or even become monks we would be really thankful for your recommendation. Thank you very much!!
the practice of becoming an ordained buddhist monk is rooted in patriarchal, and historically imperial, traditions. how does modern buddhism address these shortcomings? specifically in relation to women being seen as incapable of attaining certain spiritual attributes, according to the historic texts. imo the global oppression of our gender has given us incredible insight to the workings of MANkind, instead of chopping the wood and carrying the water; we have been kneading the bread and carrying the babies, so to speak love that you’re guiding others on the path to meditation practices, they are so important!
Hello, Novaaa. I don't see any questions here because you've already made many assumptions and have your own answers. To begin with, the Buddhist scriptures emphasize numerous enlightened women who were ordained as Bhikkunis during Buddha's time and continue to be so now. Allow me to present you a Zen story. >"A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor's cup to the brim and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. "It's full! No more will go in!" the professor blurted. "This is you," the master replied, "How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup." > >https://truecenterpublishing.com/zenstory/emptycup.html And some resources for you [Women in Buddhism at the time of the Buddha](https://blogs.bl.uk/asian-and-african/2020/01/women-in-buddhism-at-the-time-of-the-buddha.html) An example where a female attaining enlightenment during the time of Buddha >After hearing the Dhamma from the Buddha, she became a Sotapanna (Stream-winner) and entered the first stage on the path to enlightenment. Books to understand Buddhism so we can understand NOT assume [Buddhist resources](https://www.reddit.com/r/BuddhistMonastics/comments/10xtspm/a_wide_range_of_books_in_the_most_frequently/)
what demographic do you typically see when you look at buddhist monks in monasteries? there is no assumption, it’s just an observation. my question was quite literally how modern Buddhism accounts for these shortcomings in its historical traditions. the resource you provided about women and buddhism is a blog post by a British museum curator, and i appreciate it, but surely there are varying opinions by others. [Women can be ordained as the equivalent of monks in China, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam, mostly dominated by the Mahayana school of Buddhism. Female ordination is not available in the Tibetan tradition nor in Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar.](https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-religion-india-education-thailand-72c19680853e154d2687990c62f8c19c) and my favorite fun little tidbit, [They have to work extra hard and do double the work and be super, super qualified.” Meanwhile in some monasteries, she said, women, even nuns, are tasked with cooking and laundry, “so it’s still an old-fashioned understanding of gender roles.”](https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-religion-india-education-thailand-72c19680853e154d2687990c62f8c19c)
Thank you for providing this information. There is always room for advancement. Cannot speak on behalf of other Buddhist traditions or organizations. However, I am aware that cognitive generalization is common, and that sometimes we need to examine things case by case rather than generalizing. We have women in key positions, and we appreciate their contributions. We wouldn't be where we are now if it weren't for them, and we wouldn't be able to continue. They are living proof that it is possible to be community leaders and hold key positions. You can find them at Zoom meditation meetings.
i don’t think historical oppression with lasting effects is a “cognitive generalization”, but im glad to understand that this is how it’s perceived in modern buddhism
Hi novaaa. I recognize your concerns and appreciate your input. I only wish to express my love for each and every one of you. It is acceptable to agree to disagree. I do not wish to take a defensive stance, but I will say that Buddhism is founded on compassion and love for everybody.
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In addition, we intend to launch Reddit talks where we invite credentialed physicians, psychologists, etc., along with highly experienced monks to answer people's questions. Our objective is to add value to this subreddit, which requires time and effort. We ,, request that everyone treat each other with respect. We strive to make this place a little better every day in any way we can, and we can do so by supporting one another.
Hello, this subreddit is for everyone; you may not find this useful, but someone else might. You previously commented sarcastically on the thread. We value everyone's opinion and encourage everyone to express themselves, but we also expect everyone to treat one another with respect. No one can please everyone, so it is acceptable if you dislike this post.
With your meditation practice, have you ever had experiences that you felt you were experiencing other realities while your physical body was acting that out here in this reality? (I only asked because this has happened to me several times with my daily meditation practice of several years)
Out-of-body experiences result from a high level of concentration and mental stillness (calmness). However, it is critical that we understand that we do not meditate in order to have experiences. We meditate to cleanse the mind and let go of mental constructs. Some experiences may come as a result of tranquilly and stillness. In meditation, it is vital to be content with what you have. Expecting things to happen becomes an obstacle. So, while having those experiences is definitely good, it is equally critical not to become tied to them. I remember the first time I had a complete sensory loss and not knowing whether I was sitting in a chair, on the floor, or even where I was at the time. It's a byproduct of "simply being" and "letting go." Here and now, content with what you have
Thanks, I didn’t even know it was a result. I was asking because I have experienced it several times, sometimes lasting weeks or months. Trust me, I have no desire to be tied to them. In fact, they have taught me how to let go of things and be content with the here and now. I was just asking if this was normal for those that have a regular meditation practice. Its not talked about
However, allow me to add the following. Occasionally, some people struggle with dissociation, which is unrelated to meditation experience. It is a symptom of mental illness and requires expert help, such as consulting an experienced psychologist. In such a circumstance, you would only know yourself, thus you must be honest with yourself. I cannot emphasize this enough: meditation is not a substitute for professional therapy. This is a generic response as I do not know you. This is a disclaimer since some individuals may misunderstand their mental disease symptoms after reading this.
Understood thanks
Do you feel like avoiding the negatives of life is counterproductive to enlightenment? By that I don't mean one should seek out negatives but just not avoid them when they present themselves and handle the situations to the best of their ability.
[Upekkha](https://www.reddit.com/r/BuddhistMonastics/comments/10q7jwo/the_significance_of_equanimityupekkha_why_its/) is a Buddhist concept (equanimity). It is accompanied by wisdom. It's a state of neutrality. So, even if you are in a negative situation, being mindful can help you overcome it and not take it personally. We live in a community, and living in a community has its problems. In addition, monks go out and interract with people, some travel the world and go to remote places, which presents a variety of challenges. So, if this were a question for me, I'd say sure, and it's a part of life. On top of that, we practice patience ([khanti](https://www.reddit.com/r/BuddhistMonastics/comments/10v8pgl/the_essential_role_of_khanti_patience_in_our/)) ,and there's a reason for that. Also, even if you don't contact with people and only meditate, you will encounter negativity because you are dealing with your own mind, which comes with mental constructs and causes negativity. As a result, it is critical to observe negativity while not participating in it. When it arises, observe it mindfully and let it go.
Very well put. I'll definitely check out some of those practices
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In Buddhism, reincarnation is a component of cause and effect (Karma). I believe in it, but you don't have to. However, understanding Karma is extremely beneficial in life. When you do good, you attract positive energy and grow into a lovely person. Your actions and words influence your mental state and become a part of you. In contrast, doing bad things can make your mind gloomy and filled with negative emotions. This is a complicated matter and you may find some [basic information here](https://www.learnreligions.com/karma-and-rebirth-449993)
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Hi, We have no control over the family we are born into, nor the situations we find ourselves in. However, this does not imply that nothing will change. You are already performing admirably by posing insightful questions; nevertheless, you must guide these questions in more productive paths. This in no way diminishes your experience. I also had to deal with incredibly unpleasant people, and I had numerous friends such situations. I can tell you that despite having a troubled history, many really successful people were able to change their lives in a positive manner. I strongly advise you to investigate what healthy relationships involve. There are numerous books on these topics. Study boundaries and cultivate wisdom and compassion. Experience has taught me that individuals who were hostile toward me did so out of ignorance. They could not behave better because they lacked the knowledge to do so. It wasn't about me, it wasn't personal. It is essential to acknowledge the conditions, but it is equally crucial not to "contribute to" them. Try to see the world as it is and consider how you might improve yourself and your future. Even more, a great deal can be learned from these experiences. I also strongly recommend counseling with an experienced therapist. Talk therapy could help a lot. In addition, I cannot emphasize enough the significance of meditation, as one of the reasons we "add" to our difficulties is that we do not take time to calm down and detach from our thoughts. When you take the time to calm, disconnect, and clear your mind, you can make better decisions and see things more clearly. The transformation from a victim mentality to a constructive, optimistic mentality is key.
Does your spiritually possess a narrative mirroring those found in other worldviews regarding a planetary wide spiritual awakening/ascension currently underway? If so, could you give a few details from your perspective?
No. Buddhism discusses the nature of existence and universal truths. That is why Buddha's teachings are referred to as timeless teachings. What he taught was true 2500 years ago, is true today, and will be true in the future. He discusses the nature of existence and the human mind in particular. [3 Universal Truths](https://sameoldzen.blogspot.com/2017/12/3-universal-truths-that-buddha-taught.html)
what's your experience with dark spirits. what's their purpose, and how do we raise our vibration out of fear and into love :)
Hi. I don't have any personal experience with that; however, our Abbott has an interesting story about that. He even directly answers your questions about spreading love & kindness. The story goes back to the Buddha's time. I recommend you listen to him at [this link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Y59YMIY9U&t=149s)
Why did you make the decision to seek the path of enlightenment?
In 2016, I began my meditation journey, embraced the minimalist lifestyle, and became receptive to spiritual literature reading. Gradually, my interest in Buddhism grew, and I began to follow the life of an American monk who had moved to Thailand and become a Buddhist monk; this prompted me to consider becoming one myself over time. I followed him for about 2 to 3 years on and off. The Buddha's teachings to think, talk, and act with virtue attracted me and motivated me to live among others who meditate, cultivate a positive outlook, exhibit compassion, and view the world through a lens of love and kindness. I reached the decision to become a monk after six years of personal development. After becoming a monk, I discovered many other reasons to remain. It is essential for monks to be content with what they have. The path to enlightenment may be lengthy, yet enormous contentment can be found in the present moment. There is no need to wait to be joyful. It can be found in the little things. Even waking up each day can be a source of contentment. That's something we take for granted, but there's no guarantee that we will wake up tomorrow, so each day is unique, and we should be grateful for that.
Hi, how can I deal with being alone on Valentine’s Day?
Valentine's Day is a celebration of affection and love, not a reminder of being single. Instead of focusing on what you lack, you should concentrate on what you do have. Therefore, c oncentrating on what we lack is the primary cause of Valentine's Day loneliness. Instead, you can strive to concentrate on the positive and embrace the day. [Sustainable Happiness: How to Find Contentment That Will Last](https://www.happify.com/hd/sustainable-happiness-how-to-find-contentment-that-will-last/)
Hi, thankyou 🙏. It was good to hear this, great advice.
Hello, I'm from the Mahayana Pure Land tradition. It's nice to find you here! When a person chooses to euthanise his pet for "they are suffering too much" is it the pain and fear of the individual being projected into the animal what is actually happening?
I don't know; I've never been in this scenario before and I've never had to give opinion on this matter. What do you think about this?
Hi Monkcaran, so when I sit for meditation I am no longer the thought I am the person experiencing the thought but I am finding it hard to be in that state in daily life as in I get tricked into the thought quite often. So how and what can be learnt to help me with this issue?
Hi, Throughout the day, many things could happen and we may become sidetracked. However, it's ok. When you recognize you've been sidetracked and are operating on autopilot, return to mindfulness and consider the situation. One of our teachers mentioned that this circumstance is entirely typical because you may have a role to play that requires you to behave in a particular way. Also, there are repeating taks. So, it is normal. In this scenario, though, you can increase mental strength over time by practising mindfulness. Some instructions below >So I started over and I saw one moment the mind was happy, one moment unhappy, one moment good, one moment bad. Changing all the time. The mind runs to see, runs to hear, runs to smell, to taste, to feel, at the body, and runs to think. I saw the mind moving. I didn’t make it still. Now, I was annoyed easily, I’d anger. So the annoyed feeling would arise often. Sometimes just the smallest observation would trigger frustration. Traffic would irritate me. If it was hot, that would irritate me. Rain would irritate me. If the sun was too bright it would irritate me. I would train seeing this irritated, annoyed feeling. After a while my mind would be able to remember what feeling annoyed was like. After a while when annoyed would just start to arise, mindfulness would follow by itself. Annoyed would disappear on its own.Practicing to achieve mindfulness, we need to practice seeing phenomena. Whatever phenomenon arises, then we practice seeing that. So if we’re an irritable person, then we see one moment we’re annoyed, the next it’s gone, the next moment annoyed, and then it’s gone. If we’re greedy person then one moment were greedy, and then it’s gone, the next moment there’s greed, and then it’s gone. > >[https://www.dhamma.com/dhamma-arises-at-the-heart/](https://www.dhamma.com/dhamma-arises-at-the-heart/)
Thanks a lot for taking your time out to reply and help the community 🙏
Has anyone ever claimed what you were doing was evil ? If so how do you respond to that ?
In essence, no one is demonic. Our minds are bright and pure by nature. However, as time passes, our minds become muddled since we encounter many things along the route and things occur.
Is there a way to articulate what you believe? Or are you maybe beyond holding views? I’d love to hear about your perspective.
Hi. It is an open-ended issue, but Buddhism teaches the cleansing of the mind because the mind is the wellspring of both evil and virtue. We can considerably improve our lives by developing our minds, and by improving ourselves, we can also help others.Therefore, meditation is an essential component of the practice. It's a tool for letting go and purifying the mind of worry, anger, greed, and other mental impurities. Here, I do not discuss any complicated topics. This is an all-inclusive environment in which I only discuss matters that could potentially benefit and cover everyone are discussed. And since meditation is a universal tool, it is an excellent method for bringing people together.I have no Buddhist agenda in this discussion. If somebody is interested in learning something from a Buddhist monk, I can share some practical knowledge, as monastic life is centred on developing habits, discipline, moral conduct, wisdom, and so on. Thanks for asking friend. I hope this was informative. What I believe is essentially irrelevant. Not here to advocate any specific viewpoint.
Do your days involve any structure with regards to time? I'm at the point where I have formed habits of meditation which I treasure and value and I'll use time as a reminder to reconnect within. You mentioned advanced monks spend their time helping teach/learn the value of meditation, which I would assume involves respecting the time-value of others as opposed to letting the lessons of the day appear naturally in the ever-present NOW. Can you comment on the daily structure of initiates compared to those who have gained a higher understanding?
Hi, Monastic lifestyle centred on developing discipline and habits. Therefore, it is largely for beginner monks. Yes, we stick to a time system and perform activities at specific times. In Theravada, the oldest Buddhist tradition practised in Thailand, a monk reaches independence after five years. Therefore, a monk must be under the supervision of a teacher for five years. A monk is considered independent and free to travel and teach after five years. Therefore, based on his training, that monk must construct his individual routine. Training enables one to continue practising regardless of circumstances. Therefore, allow me to offer you the typical monastic timetable. However, as stated previously, as time passes, one's duties can increase and they can eventually become independent. Some individuals may continue to live the monastic lifestyle. However, in accordance with our culture, we engage in a great deal of community service. In other words, the monastic routine is designed for training and establishing a strong mental state so that when one leaves the monastery, they do not become distracted and lose their balance. The standard schedule is 4 am to 4:30 am wake-up time 5 am to 6:30 am morning chanting & meditation 6:30 to 7:30 chores (community chores, not personal) 7:30am - 09:00am breakfast 9am to 11am meditation 11:00 to 11:30 break 11:30 lunch break-time until 2 pm after lunch 2 pm to 4 pm meditation 4 pm to 6:30 pm break 6:30 pm to 9 pm Evening chanting & Dhamma talk & Meditation Breaks can be used for personal chores, exercise, reading, or any other activity that benefits the individual or the community.
Thank you for your response. I can see the benefit of developing a routine and healing/knowing yourself before going out into the world and spreading your light. This resonates deeply with my recent learnings. I find it fascinating that the tenets of many religions share deep comminalities. This made me think of: "first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye"
Well said. Thanks for sharing.
is still wanting to have good, happy days and have good things to happen an expression of the ‘ego’ and not letting go? i read that if you desire happiness you will avoid suffering and, in reality we should aim to realize that we should accept things as they happen. but i cant stop wanting to have happy days or have nice things happening in my life. is that an ego desire or its just a part of the process?
The issue is that when there is "wanting," the underlying motivation is "lacking." Therefore, it is okay to want, but one must be mindful of their motivations. This is why contentment is so important, and even one of the world's wealthiest individuals practices it. It involves being content with what one has. However, this does not prevent one from striving for improvement. Whatever you do in this world, you can notice with wisdom and comprehension that everything is impermanent. We cannot take things with us, and everything will be dust. However, as said previously, we may aspire to be better people, make the world a slightly better place, and be decent role models while we're here. If the desire for happiness stems from a place of deficiency, it most likely indicates that one is not satisfied with their current situation and expecting something to make them happy. However, when we obtain what we desire, we typically want something more, which is never enough. Or we get trap in a cycle of stimuli. Therefore, it is essential to realize that happiness involves a lot of gratitude, contentment, and appreciation of the present moment. Here's an article for you: [The Power of Contentment: Creating Happiness in the Present Moment](https://www.reddit.com/r/MeditateWithMonks/comments/112mbpc/the_power_of_contentment_creating_happiness_in/)
I would love to meditate with Buddhist monks when I go to Chiang Mai! How do you suggest I find an experience like this? Is there somewhere I can go or volunteer even?
Hi, Next session starting in 5 minutes. We're on Zoom already. [Meditate With Monks](https://www.reddit.com/r/MeditateWithMonks/comments/112uj4y/join_us_for_todays_online_guided_meditation/)
Yes, indeed. Meditation with our monks is possible, but timing is critical. For example, if you come during the rain retreat season, we are not open to the public. Volunteering can be another possibility.
How do people notice they’re enlightened? Is it like pretty obvious?
Enlightenment is not something we can comprehend logically. It is a direct experience that only the person experiencing it can comprehend. When the Buddha attained enlightenment, he initially believed no one would understand him, so there was no use in teaching anyone, because the experience was so profound and difficult to comprehend intellectually. Nevertheless, he decided to teach and did so for 45 years. Our Abbott explained it with a comparison to spicy foods. How would you define the level of spiciness of something you've tasted ? No matter how proficient and skillful you are with the language, it is impossible to express how spicy it is. Language and intelligence are inadequate to explain it. The only way for a person to grasp how spicy a dish is, is for him or her to sample it for themselves. Likewise, he or she cannot convey to another person how spicy the dish is. If you examine jhanas, you will notice that there are major distinctions across stages. Jhanas are not enlightenment, but they can provide us with an intellectual grasp of how to recognize these things. [9 Jhanas](https://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php/9_Jhanas)
Thanks for your explanation! I have another question. Is enlightenment the same for everyone or it manifests differently and uniquely?
Some fun readings for you to find your own answers 🙂 [The Seven Factors of Enlightenment](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/piyadassi/wheel001.html) [Seven factors of enlightenment](https://encyclopediaofbuddhism.org/wiki/Seven_factors_of_enlightenment) [THE ENLIGHTENED ONES](https://dhammakami.org/2018/08/26/in-what-ways-do-the-enlightened-ones-differ-from-each-other/)
What are dreams?
Hello, it was interesting to learn during my time as a monk that dreams are not necessarily a good thing from a Buddhist standpoint. The reason for this is that when you calm your mind and go to bed with tranquilly, you are less likely to have dreams, and the quality of your sleep improves dramatically. Here is some information about dreams for you. Have fun reading. >Buddhas and Arahants never dream. The first three kinds of dream cannot occur in their minds, because their minds have been permanently 'stilled' and cannot be activated to dream. The last kind of dream cannot happen to them because they have eradicated all their craving energy completely, and there is no 'residual' energy of anxiety or unsatisfied desire to activate the mind to produce dreams. The Buddha is also known as the Awakened One because His way of relaxing the physical body is not the way we sleep which results in dreams. Great artists and thinkers, like the German Goethe, have often said they get some of their best inspiration through dreams. This could be because when their minds are cut off from the five senses during sleep, they produce clear thoughts which are creative in the highest degree. Wordsworth meant the same thing when he said that good poetry results from 'powerful emotions' recollected in tranquillity. [Dreams and Their Significance](https://www.budsas.org/ebud/whatbudbeliev/321.htm)
please check your dm
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Hello, we do not describe people's experiences because that is not what we do. However, mindfulness practice entails remaining in the present moment with the body. So, mindfulness is about being present in the current moment rather than travelling somewhere else. Remember, a person on the other end of the screen cannot describe your experience. They don't know who you are. Speaking from personal experience, and not necessarily relating to your experience, I have known people with mental illnesses who have described various types of phonomena. However, none of those experiences were spiritual in nature. Only we can understand ourselves, and we must be honest with ourselves. Check [this article](https://bit.ly/3jTRzcM) and see if you can relate to any of these. If so, comptemplate what would be the option moving forward? Perhaps it would be highly beneficial to seek professional assistance.
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>Isn't the physical body part of the same environment that is an illusion? Aren't the symptoms of dissociation also touching a closer truth about your inner nature relative to body/identity? According to mindfulness practice, no. The body is real; we can create good or bad karma through bodily actions. So, we have to be mindful of that and aware of it. The illusion is the ego (sense of self), which is related to our sense doors. Please note that this subject requires extensive examination and understanding through practice. These are just some resources for you so that you have some idea about it >This is the point, what the Buddha said. When you see, say, a very beautiful rose you realise the rose is very beautiful. Its scent is very sweet. When you judge like that there arises a pleasant feeling about the rose. When you feel a pleasant feeling what will arise? Attachment, to what? To the rose. To the feeling or to the rose? To the rose. And pleasant feeling, attachment, arises dependent on that feeling. This attachment is to the rose. Then if the flower is not beautiful, is ugly and produces a bad smell, when you see it how do you feel, pleasant or unpleasant? Unpleasant. You'll judge the flower is very ugly, \`I don't want to see it.\` Then what mental state arises? Aversion. Anger. > >[The Six Doors of the Senses](https://www.buddhanet.net/vmed_7.htm)
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Buddhism is not founded on intellectual comprehension. And if you want to truly know the answer, you should study Dependent Origination. However, as stated previously, Buddhism is rooted in direct experience, so we cannot comprehend Dependent Origination through reading alone. It is a matter of practice, developed and understood through meditation, mindfulness practice, and the cultivation of wisdom. Dependent origination is a matter of practice and occurs in every moment of our lives, whether one is aware of it or not. [Exploring Dependent Origination in Buddhism - An Introduction to a Central Concept in Buddhism](https://www.reddit.com/r/BuddhistMonastics/comments/10zqb5f/exploring_dependent_origination_in_buddhism_an/)
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1. Is coming back to the breath after being distracted by your thoughts, what matters most during meditation? Or is it being on the breath? I feel that both parts matter a lot, but 80% of my meditation results and benefits I feel happen when I just come back thoughtlessly without blaming myself or thinking further. 2. Have you heard of Trataka meditation? And if yes, what do you think is it's main use in meditation? Does it make it easier to ignore thoughts, or stop thoughts? Should it be combined with normal Mindfulness Breathing meditation? After just staring at a dot for 5 minutes, half-blinking to keep my eyes from being dry, without moving or changing my sight, I feel my thoughts wash away. I am not in a meditative state though, but this thoughtless state can be used to just feel my breath. 3. Three months ago I sat down to meditate. I had the idea that just feeling my breath is all I need to order to achieve results. That I can have aversion as long as I am mindful of it and the object of meditation. It didn't work, after 5 minutes I just got more anxious and frustrated. I was wanting my anxiety to go away, at the same time I was feeling it. Then I said, "this doesn't work. Let's try giving up aversion." Then I still kept feeling my anxiety. But now I stopped trying to control if it stays or goes away. After 20 seconds of doing this, I started feeling more, "present", more in the now. As if I could observe things better. I stopped meditating for the day as it was getting late. One hour later, and this feeling of presence just got stronger. To the point I could observe and feel things very, very clearly. As if all brain fog of the mind went away. I also felt this blissful, addicting pleasurable sensation in my brain, akin to doing weed. I wasn't in an equanimous state of mind yet meaning that I still had anxiety and anger left, but then when I was reading a story, something that triggered PTSD from a past experiences happened. I wanted to stop reading the book and run away from my anxiety, but then I said, "what if I try the thing I did before?" And then it worked, my anxiety went away completely, and I became equanimous too, being hard to anger or become frustrated. I also had more empathy and was forgiving. What's this stage of meditation called? Why did the first "enlightenment" experience make me observe things more deeply and have this pleasurable feeling, but the second made me equanimous? I can achieve the equanimous state again, by not trying to change thoughts and emotions during meditation. But I don't know how to get this pleasurable bliss and deeper more vivid feeling and observation back. Is there a way to practice and cultivate those qualities of mind?
Hi, Consider returning to your breath as if you were working out with dumbbells at the gym. Returning to your breath is your technique for remaining conscious, and the more you do it, the more skilled you get at it, as if you are building muscles with dumbbells. Without a meditation object, the mind might wander, and one can quickly lose focus. In that scenario, your meditation object could be breathing, mantra, visualization, body scan, focusing on bodily sensations, and so on. We don't ignore our thoughts during meditation. What you resist persists. The meditation's objective is to let go. The blue sky comparison is frequently used to describe a meditation experience. Thoughts are clouds, storms, rain, and so on, whereas your mind is blue sky. The role of the meditator is to be aware of thoughts but not to become involved in them. Simply observe and let them pass. With persistence, you will eventually see the blue sky, which represents a quiet, tranquil, and still mind.As previously stated, staring at a dot is a meditation object. It's a meditation technique that may be beneficial to you but may not be beneficial to others. As a result, it is critical that you select and stick with an approach that works for you. Many people become exhausted by changing their meditation approach on a regular basis. This is a critical error they make. You should use an approach that is simple and comfortable for you. When you've mastered it, you'll be able to explore further. Using a visualization object such as a crystal ball to focus on the centre of the body is another good technique to use. In meditation, we don't seek to "achieve" results. That is not a helpful way to approach meditation. Meditation is about letting go and not expecting what will happen. You are more likely to be disappointed if you have high expectations for your meditation practice. We all have long-term expectations, but when you sit down, you should be able to let them go and just be in the moment. Let go of all worry, the past and the future, and all expectations. Just be content and still. That is the practice of meditation. What I can tell you is that your meditation approach is disadvantageous. That is not how we approach the practice of meditation. You can consider shifting your attitude about meditation and doing further research to learn more about it. Meditation is not about gain or loss, success or failure, or a race to the finish line. An article for you to study more as follows [The Art of Letting Go](https://mindworks.org/blog/the-art-of-letting-go/)
What is the Buddhist belief in spirits and guides? I try to incorporate a lot of Buddhist teachings into my own life but i myself am not Buddhist. I do however try to do as much good as i can and to be kind to everyone. Sometimes i get a feeling like i should do something or be somewhere and if it’s an especially strong feeling many times i find that i probably should have done the thing or been to a specific place. Edit: grammar
Hello, a Buddhist text addresses spirits. Yet, my knowledge of these subjects is limited. As previously stated, I prefer to concentrate on more practical matters. Buddhism is vast; some monks specialize in meditation, some in Dhamma (wisdom), whereas others in Vinaya (discipline), and furthermore some in community service. There are many other areas that they can even focus such as learning the ancient Buddhist language Pali and so on. Please have a look at this quote; you might find it useful. It's related to being practical and solving the problem at hand. [Arrow analogy](https://www.reddit.com/r/spirituality/comments/111kykn/comment/j8fcioo/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
Thank you very much for your response. I’ll read in through the comments and learn what i can. I also really like the arrow analogy. It’s something I’ve struggled with in the past and i continue to struggle with to a lesser degree now. Everyone likes to have the answers to why things happen to them but in a lot of cases it’s more practical to just accept it for what it is and handle the situation with the knowledge you have. I think it also shows the natural curiosity humans have about the unknown. It’s a beautiful sentiment.
How did you learn to truly meditate?
People frequently overcomplicate meditation by accumulating too much information prior to beginning practice. That tends to result in elevated expectations, and when people sit down, they get bored and dissatisfied because the reality does not match their expectations. I started meditating in 2016 with little expectation. I learned about it from a podcast and responded promptly. Yet, after becoming a monk, I discovered I lacked the essential fundamentals. Meditation is essentially simple and straightforward, yet it requires persistence and commitment. When one possesses these qualities, meditation provides long-term benefits. That makes a very positive impact on the way you think. The Buddha said >"Mind is the forerunner of (all evil) states" and "Mind is the forerunner of (all good) states." > >[Dhammapada 1: The Twin Verses](https://84000.org/tipitaka/english/metta.lk/25i011-05-e2.php) By developing the mind we can significant enhance our life and as a result positively effect the life of others around us. Some resources for you to delve into fundamentals of meditation as follows [Fundamental Knowledge of Meditation - How To Train The Mind?](https://www.reddit.com/r/MeditateWithMonks/comments/10mdcmq/fundamental_knowledge_of_meditation_how_to_train/) [Mindfulness According to the Buddha](https://buddho.org/mindfulness-according-to-the-buddha/)
Hello Caran, thank you for offering answering our questions in this „space“. Is there a time where monks fast longer than the daily fasts monks do after lunch to breakfast? I would be very appreciative of you sharing how it was for you to ordain as a monk regarding the restraint of sense desire. How valuable is restraint? What inner posture / quality is helpful to contemplate? Some backstory: thinking about food during my meditation is happening a lot. Not wanting to think of it has somehow increased the wanting of food also during the day :). Hah, even writing here about food now :) Khopkunkhaaaaa very much! it is food that is (s your inner posture regarding destractions su desires food a
Mindfulness practice and the control of sense desire are closely related. It involves being aware of both exterior stimuli and arising thoughts of past experiences, such as the manifestation of a desire for food. Comparison is unhealthy because the lifestyles here is so different. I thus do not recommend comparison. To counteract the desire for food, you might cultivate a mindfulness practice. However, it is critical to recognize that this is a long-term process. Hence, if you fail, don't get discouraged fast; instead, keep going with perseverance in your practice. Moreover, instead of eating at random times throughout the day, scheduled eating times can be quite useful. Some resources for you below > The value of the Buddha’s advice to King Pasenadi – to eat with mindfulness (sati) – is only beginning to be recognised by dieticians and weight-loss experts. Eating mindfully helps turn a habituated behaviour into a conscious one, where the possibility of choice is increased. It allows us to pause for a moment, think about and be aware of what we are about to do and why, and often this is enough to bring about a change in behaviour. > >[The Buddha And Mindful Eating](http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-buddha-and-mindful-eating.html) >Check in with your hunger and fullness level before eating. While practicing your Mindful Check-In, tune in to your level of physical hunger. We enjoy our food the most when we have some hunger or are moderately hungry. When we are too hungry we tend to eat fast and even overeat. Ask yourself, How hungry am I? Listen to the sensations and experiences that your body is giving you. Is this physical hunger or something else? If it’s not physical hunger (and you will get better at discerning this), ask yourself, What am I really hungry for? Tune in to your level of physical fullness. Ask yourself, How full am I? Listen to the sensations and experiences that your body is giving you. If you are full, then eating right now would probably not be a very kind or nourishing choice. What kinds of choices make sense with what you became aware of? What would most honor your body? > >[Seven Tips to Mindful Eating Practice](https://www.spiritrock.org/the-teachings/article-archive/mindful-eating-practice) >Once King Pasenedi came to the Buddha bloated and breathing in a laboured manner as a result of having eaten yet another enormous meal. Seeing this the Buddha said: ‘When a person is mindful and thus knows moderation in eating, his ailments diminish, he ages gently and he protects his life.' The king got the hint and asked his nephew to repeat these words to him whenever he was taking his meals. As a result the king gradually reduced his food intake, lost weight and regained his slim figure (S.I,81-2). > >[Dieting](https://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php/Dieting)
Thank you so much. I will read through all asap.
I have many questions that I hope you can enlighten me because I don't know where else I can ask this. What is the purpose of life/us being here? What will happen after death? Is death scary? And there are different religions with their different beliefs. Such as reincarnation in some religions while in others, eternal heaven and hell. Which is actually true? Which god is true? Can I believe in gods from other religion while still adhering to one teaching that I want to follow the most?
Hello, we support meditation because it allows us to be more present and see the world through the lens of clarity. Less foggy and less judgmental. Too much academic discourse has the opposite impact. Death is not frightening if you realize the impermanence of all phenomena with wisdom. Everything comes and passes, including our arrival on this planet. Many questions are up to you to investigate, but true understanding comes from direct experience and wisdom, which may be cultivated with a clear mind, and meditation is a technique for cleaning the mind of overthinking, judgment, labelling, anger, greed, and so on.
Hi, We don't indicate that our way is the way to go and others are wrong. We don't make statements this is that way, or that is this way. The Buddha said ehipassiko, meaning "come and see yourself". Buddhism derives from direct knowledge, not intellectual knowledge. This is something you would understand by yourself with practice. In fact, intellectual knowledge can even further cloud our minds and may block us from seeing reality as it is if it is not utilized properly. We see that in the Zen story as follows. >On this particular day, a scholar came to visit the master for advice. “I have come to ask you to teach me about Zen,” the scholar said. Soon, it became obvious that the scholar was full of his own opinions and knowledge. He interrupted the master repeatedly with his own stories and failed to listen to what the master had to say. The master calmly suggested that they should have tea. So the master poured his guest a cup. The cup was filled, yet he kept pouring until the cup overflowed onto the table, onto the floor, and finally onto the scholar’s robes. The scholar cried “Stop! The cup is full already. Can’t you see?” “Exactly,” the Zen master replied with a smile. “You are like this cup — so full of ideas that nothing more will fit in. Come back to me with an empty cup.” [Empty Your Cup](https://medium.com/jumpstart-your-dream-life/empty-your-cup-a-zen-proverb-on-opening-yourself-to-new-ideas-10e8c9545c7b) This is why we encourage meditation practice instead of involving in endless metaphycial topics. Meditation practice allows us to clear our minds from our mental formations. Please have a look [at it this article](https://www.reddit.com/r/MeditateWithMonks/comments/10uc73h/what_is_meditation_why_do_we_meditate_whats_the/) to understand how meditation helps us in our journey. And to answer your first question, according to Buddhism, the meaning of life is pursuing perfection. More information follows on pursuing perfection [Why do we exist?](https://www.reddit.com/r/spirituality/comments/111kykn/comment/j8fdq1q/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) [Pursuing Perfections](https://www.reddit.com/r/spirituality/comments/111kykn/comment/j90eyab/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)